Zero Terrain: one underground space can serve more than one purpose
What if underground infrastructure built for one purpose could create opportunities for several others? For Andres Veske, CEO of Zero Terrain, this is one of the key questions behind the company’s involvement in the Underground Innovation Hackathon.
Zero Terrain develops underground pumped hydro storage, where energy is stored by moving water between reservoirs. Its flagship Energiasalv project in Paldiski is a 500 MW / 15 GWh underground energy storage facility and an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI). The lower reservoir is planned deep in the bedrock, at around 600 metres below ground.
The project requires extensive underground infrastructure, including tunnels, shafts and caverns. But that raises a broader question: what else could this underground space and infrastructure do besides store energy?
According to Andres Veske, one of the biggest opportunities is to use the same excavated space for more than one purpose. Bedrock offers stable temperatures, physical protection and security that can be difficult and costly to achieve above ground.
For example, a data centre or critical control centre could potentially be located alongside the energy storage facility, making use of existing infrastructure such as its grid connection. Seawater could be used for cooling, while waste heat could be fed into district heating. Excavated rock can also be reused as construction material.
At the same time, building underground comes with its own challenges. It can be more expensive than building above ground, and factors such as ventilation, safety, access and a long operational lifespan need to be considered from the very beginning.
This is exactly where the Underground Innovation Hackathon comes in. Teams will work on real underground infrastructure opportunities, developing solutions with support from technical, business and industry experts. The hackathon gives teams a chance to test their ideas against real-world challenges and get feedback from experts who are already developing underground projects.
As Andres Veske puts it:“A good idea can move straight into a real project.”
The future of underground space is still being written. Your team could help define it.
Apply for the Underground Innovation Hackathon by 23 November 2026