Samoa Compressed Air Energy Storage Project

What is a compressed air energy storage project?

A compressed air energy storage (CAES) project in Hubei, China, has come online, with 300MW/1,500MWh of capacity. The 5-hour duration project, called Hubei Yingchang, was built in two years with a total investment of CNY1.95 billion (US$270 million) and uses abandoned salt mines in the Yingcheng area of Hubei, China’s sixth-most populous province.

What is compressed air energy storage (CAES)?

Among the different ES technologies, compressed air energy storage (CAES) can store tens to hundreds of MW of power capacity for long-term applications and utility-scale. The increasing need for large-scale ES has led to the rising interest and development of CAES projects.

What is adiabatic energy storage (CAES)?

When charged using renewable energy sources, adiabatic CAES can be virtually emission-free. Unlike pumped hydro storage, which can require large reservoirs and potentially disrupt local ecosystems, CAES primarily uses underground geological formations, limiting surface land footprint.

Is large-scale storage a viable source of peak power and ancillary grid services?

Over the years, it has proven a stable source of peak power and ancillary grid services for the region. Completed in 2012, the Gaines CAES project in Texas (500 MW) further demonstrated the viability of large-scale storage in salt formations.

Can A CAES plant use compressed air to produce electricity?

CAES plants, on the other hand, can potentially use stored compressed air to drive turbines and produce electricity without relying on external grid power. 1.

Where is compressed air stored?

Storage: The compressed air is stored, typically in large underground caverns such as salt domes, abandoned mines, or depleted natural gas reservoirs. Above-ground alternatives include high-pressure tanks or specially designed vessels, though these are generally more expensive and limited in capacity.