Compressed air energy storage power station price

How can we model the cost of compressed air energy storage?

We can model the capex costs of Compressed Air Energy Storage from first principles in the model, by combining our models of compressor costs, storage facility costs and turbine costs. Our numbers also match top-down costs reported for past projects and technical papers into CAES.

What is compressed air energy storage (CAES)?

What opportunities? Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) seeks to smooth out power grids, using excess electricity to compress air into storage tanks or underground reservoirs at high pressures (e.g., 40-80 bar). The energy needed to compress air to different temperatures is plotted below.

How much power does a new energy storage facility provide?

The $207.8 million facility boasts an energy storage capacity of 300 MW/1,800 MWh and occupies an area of approximately 100,000 m2. According to ZCGN, it is capable of providing uninterrupted power discharge for up to six hours, ensuring power supplies to between 200,000 and 300,000 local homes during peak consumption periods.

Does scaling a powerhouse cost more than PSH?

An assumption has been made that the drop in system cost with scaling for CAES is approximately half that of PSH at 8%, since PSH benefits more from scaling due to the nature of the excavation and requirements for underground powerhouse expansion. The scaling factor for various power levels was determined by setting a 100 MW value to 1.

How much does a CAES compressor train cost?

Conversation with a CAES developer indicated that long-term service contracts are typically acquired for maintenance and that, for a system with a 130 MW compressor train and 324 MW generator train, the hourly rate is typically $168/hour for generation and $43/hour for the compressor (Farley, 2020b).

What happens if a gas is compressed during storage?

Another 3-30% will be lost due to compressed gases cooling during storage (see below). When gases are compressed they tend to heat up. For example, in an isentropic process — where heat is not exchanged with the external environment — compressing air to 30-60 bar will also tend to increase its temperature to 500-600°C.