Economic costs of compressed air energy storage

What is compressed air energy storage (CAES)?

As the world transitions to decarbonized energy systems, emerging long-duration energy storage technologies are crucial for supporting the large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a promising solution for large-scale, long-duration energy storage with competitive economics.

How much does compressed air energy storage cost?

Our base case for Compressed Air Energy Storage costs require a 26c/kWh storage spread to generate a 10% IRR at a $1,350/kW CAES facility, with 63% round-trip efficiency, charging and discharging 365 days per year.

Why do we need compressed air energy storage systems?

Conclusions With excellent storage duration, capacity, and power, compressed air energy storage systems enable the integration of renewable energy into future electrical grids. There has been a significant limit to the adoption rate of CAES due to its reliance on underground formations for storage.

What is adiabatic compressed air energy storage (a-CAES)?

The adiabatic compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) system has been proposed to improve the efficiency of the CAES plants and has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its advantages including no fossil fuel consumption, low cost, fast start-up, and a significant partial load capacity .