Description
Energy storage is one of the big challenges in the energy sector in order to achieve a low carbon energy system, based on renewable energy. Currently storage research is strongly oriented towards batteries options, but an “old” technology like Compressed Air Storage Systems (CAES) should be be analized. Lack of CAES technology is linked to two main aspects: - Need of natural caverns for air storage. This kind of caverns presents several problems for installation and bad quality compressed air for motors and turbines, that extract energy from this air; - Low performance of the whole system, with high energetic losses Both aspects limit the general use of CAES technology, while the use of Combined Cycle CAES technology and the use of artificial caverns and a special system for constant pressure and temperature maintenance, offers a promising technology that could be incorporated to existing or new wind farms (and other energy facilities) in order to facilitate for increased renewable energy in the energy generation mix.
Summary of project results
IBERDROLA Ingeniería y Construcción led the project with the objective of research the combined cycle technology CAES that make achieve a safe, reliable and efficient storage of power, generated in wind farms, allowing a better management demand and an environmental improvement in energy processes. This project has provided a technological leap respect to the CAES technology plants designed years ago, and has allowed to take advantage the companies as international references. The consortium worked in two specific tasks: -Combined Cycle CAES technology. Implementation alternatives. -Conceptual system design. Application to wind farms. The development of this project has enabled to achieve benefits as the following ones: -Analyze one of the most promising fields in the integration of renewable networking as energy storage -Increase the quality of service and network stability -Improve market responsiveness depending on demand -Increase the presence of the wind energy
Summary of bilateral results