Advances in Deep Underground Space Utilization for Energy Storage and Carbon Management

The transition toward low-carbon and resilient energy systems is accelerating the use of deep underground space for energy storage and geological carbon management. Beyond conventional georeservoirs, repurposed and active mine spaces such as galleries, voids, and tailings facilities represent an underused resource for both energy storage and carbon sequestration, with distinct rock-mechanical and geochemical challenges that differ from those of salt caverns and depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs. Their safe and efficient use is challenged by high stress, elevated temperature, and long-term interactions among rock, fluids, gases, and engineered systems, which can drive deformation, fracture propagation, and instability. Advances in rock mechanics, backfill and mineralization performance, and containment behavior are needed to connect fundamental mechanisms with reliable engineering design.This Research Topic focuses on the mechanical and geochemical challenges of using deep underground and mine-associated space for energy storage and carbon management. It brings together studies on salt-cavern, rock-cavern, and repurposed mine-space energy storage; rock deformation, creep, fatigue, and fracture under cyclic thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical conditions; and carbon sequestration in mine tailings and cemented backfill, including its containment and monitoring. By integrating laboratory experiments, theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, and field validation, this collection seeks to reveal governing mechanisms, improve predictive capabilities, and support practical strategies for safe, long-term underground storage.We welcome original research, review, methods, and perspective articles addressing:• Salt caverns, rock caverns, and repurposed mine spaces for energy storage, including construction, integrity, and long-term stability;• Rock deformation, creep, fatigue, fracture, and damage under cyclic loading and coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical conditions relevant to energy storage;• Carbon sequestration in mine tailings and carbonated cemented backfill for underground applications, including mineral carbonation pathways and material performance;• Containment integrity and monitoring of carbon- and energy-storing materials in mine-associated underground space.• Studies with clear engineering relevance, validated models, or transferable datasets are especially encouraged. Topic editors: Zongze Li, Fan Yang, WEI CHEN Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85854/advances-in-deep-underground-space-utilization-for-energy-storage-and-carbon-management