Offshore wind power storage breakthrough: underwater air tanks vs hydrogen buffer!
Large-scale renewable energy storage options like Power-to-Gas and Underwater Compressed Air systems were compared for use with offshore wind power. The study aimed to maximize profitability by considering costs, market values, and technological constraints. The Power-to-Gas system had a power equivalent to 10% of the wind park capacity with a small hydrogen storage buffer. The Underwater Compressed Air system had a power close to the full wind farm capacity but required large underwater tanks. Both systems impact wind plant management differently: Power-to-Gas is compact and flexible, while Underwater Compressed Air has higher efficiency but higher costs. Currently, the economics are not ideal, but they could become more competitive as energy markets evolve.