New technology boosts efficiency of zero-emission electricity storage systems.
Large-scale electricity storage is crucial for renewable energy integration. A-CAES power plants store electricity as compressed air underground, offering efficient and cost-effective storage. To enhance flexibility, a power-to-heat element is added during charging, improving plant dynamics and reducing costs. Although this decreases overall efficiency, a new configuration shows promise for cost reduction and high exergetic utilization, paving the way for upgraded CAES power plants.