View source for Compressed air energy storage

[[Category:Done 2018-06-01]] 
<onlyinclude>'''Compressed air energy storage''' or simply '''CAES''' is one of the many ways that [[energy]] can be stored during times of high production for use at a time when there is high [[electricity]] demand.</onlyinclude>
==Description==

CAES takes the energy delivered to the system (by [[wind power]] for example) to run an air compressor, which pressurizes air and pushes it underground into a natural storage area such as an underground salt cavern. At a later time, when there is electricity demand, the pressurized air is released back to the surface and [[heat]]ed. The air is then used to turn a [[turbine]], which [[electricity generation|generate]]s electricity. CAES may be stored for a long period of time (several months), and is a technology that may be used for [[energy storage]] on a large scale. The [[efficiency]] of CAES ranges anywhere from 60-80%.<ref name=Ref1>H. Chen, X. Zhang, J. Liu and C. Tan. (2013). “Compressed Air Energy Storage, Energy Storage – Technologies and Applications.” Dr. A. Zobaa (Ed.) DOI: 10.5772/52221.</ref>
[[File:CAES.PNG|center|thumb|800px|Figure 1: Description of compressed air energy storage process<ref name=Ref1/>]]

==Research and Development==

In current CAES technology, the compressed air used to create electricity is supplemented with a small amount of [[natural gas]] or other [[fuel]]. A different type of CAES that aims to eliminate the need of fuel combustion, known as Advanced Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (AA-CAES), has recently been developed. AA-CAES stores the heat created during the initial air compression for use in the electricity generation section of the cycle. While this would entirely eliminate the need for [[fossil fuel]]s in the energy system, research shows that the efficiency of this process is extremely low, around 50%.<ref>W. F. Pickard, N. J. Hansing, and A. Q. Shen. (2009, May). “Can large-scale advanced-adiabatic compressed air energy storage be justified economically in an age of sustainable energy?“ Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy. [Online]. 1. (033102), 1-10 DOI: 10.1063/1.3139449.</ref> 

==Current Installations==

As of late 2012, there are three existing large scale compressed air energy storage facilities worldwide. All three current CAES projects use large underground salt caverns to store energy.

The first is located in Huntorf, Germany, and was completed in 1978. The plant takes two hours to discharge all of the energy from the air stored and has a capacity of 290 [[MW]]. This plant was intended to be a way for [[nuclear power plant]]s to start up without using electricity from the [[grid]].<ref name=Ref3>Alberta Innovates Technology Futures. (October 2011). “Energy Storage: Making Intermittent Power Dispatchable.” Calgary, AB: Alberta Innovates Technology Futures.</ref>

In 1991, a second CAES facility was completed in McIntosh, Alabama.<ref name=Ref3/> This facility was originally built for demonstration purposes, and has a capacity of 110 MW. It is able to generate electricity in 26 hour intervals.  

In December 2012, a third CAES facility was completed in Gaines, Texas.<ref>RWE Global. “ADELE – Adiabatic compressed-air energy storage (CAES) for electricity supply.” Internet: http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/en/365478/rwe/innovation/projects-technologies/energy-storage/project-adele-adele-ing/, n.d. [October 29, 2013].</ref> This project was constructed to have a capacity of 500 MW. 

In 2013, the world’s first AA-CAES facility was approved for construction in Germany. The Adiabatic CAES for Electricity Supply, or ADELE,<ref>J. St. John, Greentech Media. “Texas to Host 317 NW of Compressed Air Energy Storage.” Internet: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/texas-calls-for-317mw-of-compressed-air-energy-storage2, July 9, 2013 [October 29, 2013].</ref> hopes to be able to store and convert energy at an efficiency of 70% or greater. The project will attempt to be the first CAES facility that does not need additional fuels in order to produce the required heat.

==References==

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[[Category:Energy storage]]
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