To ensure that power grids can offer acceptable performance and/or simultaneously to be in phase with demand, the integration of electricity storage is essential in the network. The existing energy storage capacity of 100 GW worldwide mainly consists of pumped hydroelectric plants. Pumped hydroelectric has a successful and reliable operating history of more than 50 years. However, for many countries the opportunity to build new hydroelectric pumped storage is low. Systems of energy storage using compressed air (CAES) represent an enormous potential to offset the gap between supply and demand. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) operates very similarly to conventional gas turbine except that the compression and expansion stage are separated. Storage is performed during off-peak hours by compressing ambient air which is then stored in caves. These caves may include old mining cavities, or saline aquifers. During peak hours, the compressed air is reheated by burning natural gas or fuel for gas turbine the operation.
展开▼