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Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) systems store energy by using electricity to power compressors that inject high-pressure air into underground geological formations or specially engineered storage tanks.
This process typically occurs during nighttime periods when electricity demand is low.
During peak demand, the stored compressed air is released to drive a turbine generator and produce electricity. CAES systems can store large amounts of energy, functioning similarly to pumped hydroelectric storage by utilizing natural or artificial storage cavities.
For localized applications, compressed air is stored in man-made reservoirs.
However, two major challenges limit widespread adoption of CAES: the need for suitable geological sites for air storage and the system’s relatively lower efficiency compared to traditional hydroelectric storage.
A recent advancement in this field is Advanced Adiabatic CAES (AA-CAES), which incorporates thermal storage to improve overall efficiency.