Operation mode of air energy storage power station

How does compressed air energy storage technology work?

At its core, Compressed Air Energy Storage Technology works on a fairly simple principle: use electricity to compress air, store it under pressure, and then release it later to generate power. Think of it like charging a giant “air battery.”

What is compressed air energy storage (CAES)?

In compressed air energy storages (CAES), electricity is used to compress air to high pressure and store it in a cavern or pressure vessel. During compression, the air is cooled to improve the efficiency of the process and, in case of underground storage, to reach temperatures comparable to the temperature at storage depth.

What are adiabatic systems in compressed air energy storage?

Advanced Variations Recent innovations in Compressed Air Energy Storage Technology have introduced “adiabatic” systems. These capture and reuse the heat generated during the compression process instead of relying on fossil fuels for reheating, making the process much cleaner and more efficient.

How do diabatic systems store energy?

Diabatic systems do not store the heat from compression. Instead, they use natural gas or or other fuels to heat up the air during expansion. Figure 1: Schematic of CAES, taken from: Groenenberg et al., Large-scale energy storage in salt caverns and depleted fields (LSES) – project findings, TNO Report R12006, 2020.