Compressed Air Energy Storage

Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) stores energy by compressing air and is suitable for large-scale energy storage applications. It helps balance supply and demand on the energy grid.

Air is compressed during periods of low energy demand. When energy is needed, the compressed air is released to drive turbines, generating electricity.

CAES stores substantial amounts of energy in underground caverns, making it ideal for long-duration energy storage. It can provide backup power for hours to days.

Modern CAES systems can achieve efficiencies of around 60-70%, though this depends on the system design and geological conditions.

Research is focused on improving system efficiency and integrating renewable energy sources with CAES. Innovations aim to make CAES more adaptable to various geological conditions.