Patent ID: 8664786

Claim:
A method of using an underwater pumped-hydro energy storage device, comprising: determining, through use of an energy distribution computer, a power supply capacity of a power source and a load demand of a power user; detecting, through use of one or more sensors, a status of at least one submersible tank of the underwater pumped-hydro energy storage device; pumping water out of at least one submersible tank via a water pump to store energy when the load demand does not exceed the power supply capacity and the status of the at least one submersible tank is not empty; and generating output electrical power by permitting water to flow into the at least one submersible tank through a turbine power unit of the underwater pumped-hydro energy storage device, wherein the turbine is designed to operate at first hydrostatic pressure; and enabling gas to flow into or out of the at least one submersible tank through a gas vent attached to the at least one submersible tank, wherein the gas vent includes a throttling gas valve which opens and closes automatically to regulate the flow of the gas into or out of the at least submersible tank to maintain a hydrostatic pressure between a first threshold which is less than the first hydrostatic pressure and a second threshold which is greater than the first hydrostatic pressure.