article · Alexandria Engineering Journal
Renewable energy sources are unpredictable, causing imbalances across broader energy networks. Compressed air energy storage offers a thermo-mechanical option capable of delivering large-scale and sustainable energy storage. However, commercial adoption remains limited due to high unit storage costs and low roundtrip efficiencies. Recent developments address these challenges through technological enhancements, design criteria, and retrofitting strategies aimed at boosting thermo-economic performance. Integrating compressed air energy storage with solar and wind power opens emerging application pathways, particularly for micro-grid distribution and wider energy markets. Efficient operational scheduling also plays an important role in balancing supply and demand within modern networks. Evaluating these configurations, along with current system limitations, provides a clearer foundation for designing and implementing renewable-powered compressed air storage across varied operating contexts.
Expanding renewable power requires dependable ways to store surplus energy when generation fluctuates. Compressed air systems provide a large-scale option, but efficiency losses and high expenses have limited their rollout. Identifying methods to overcome these hurdles helps stabilise energy distribution, assists micro-grids, and supports the shift toward cleaner, more dependable energy networks.
Target applications include micro-grid distribution and energy market balancing for grid operators and renewable energy utilities. Improving roundtrip efficiency and unit costs through retrofitting could support commercial adoption. As the source outlines design criteria, scheduling challenges, and technical constraints, the concepts appear to be at an early planning and evaluation stage rather than ready for immediate, off-the-shelf commercial use.
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The unpredictable nature of renewable energy creates uncertainty and imbalances in energy systems. Incorporating energy storage systems into energy and power applications is a promising approach to provide economic, technical, and environmental benefits to these energy systems. Among different energy storage options, compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a concept for thermo-mechanical energy storage with the potential to offer large-scale, and sustainable operation. However, the low roundtrip efficiency and high unit storage cost are the main drawbacks that impede the commercialization of this kind of advanced technology. This review paper covers the technological advancements, design criteria, retrofitting enhancement strategies, and renewable energies' emerging application potentials for improving the thermo-economic performances of CAES systems. More so, the paper also discusses the recent scheduling considerations, challenges, and the role of solar and wind powered CAES systems in micro-grid distribution within energy networks, and energy market environments. Lastly, the limitations and future expectations of CAES are also highlighted. The paper serves as a detailed guide for planning and implementing various types of renewable driven CAES configurations in diverse applications.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2024.11.062
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