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Clean, reliable, and cost-efficient storage that will transform the energy market
Unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and matching the reliability of conventional power depends on long-term energy storage solutions. To drive the transition to 100% renewable energy, we offer Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) technology, developed with our partner Highview Power.
Sumitomo SHI FW is at the forefront of cutting-edge energy storage technology by actively participating in The Long Duration Energy Storage Council. Explore how our LAES technology can help you achieve your net-zero goals.
Tabs
Liquid air energy storage technology utilizes readily available air, cooling it into a liquid form for storage and later converting it back to a pressurized gas to drive turbines and generate electricity. We at Sumitomo SHI FW provide Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) solutions utilizing a technology license from Highview Power. The patented liquid air energy storage system integrates proven methods from turbo machinery, power generation, and industrial gas industries.
Stage 1. Charging the system
An air liquefier uses electricity to draw and cool air from the surrounding environment. The air is then cleaned and cooled to sub-zero temperatures until it liquifies. The process condenses 700 liters of ambient air into just 1 liter of liquid air.
Stage 2. Energy store
The liquid air is stored in insulated tanks at low pressure, acting as the energy reservoir.
Stage 3. Power recovery
During power demand, excess heat from liquefaction heats the liquid air through heat exchangers and a heat transfer fluid. This process results in a high-pressure gas that powers a turbine to create electricity. Additionally, cold energy is recovered during regasification and expansion, enhancing the plant’s overall efficiency by reusing it in the liquefaction cycle.
Full-service solution
- SFW offers LAES as a comprehensive turnkey solution, covering engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, utilizing a technology license from Highview Power.
- This includes feasibility studies, technology comparison, optimal plant sizing, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
Scalable and flexible
- LAES maximizes storage capacity, offering charging and discharging flexibility. Plants start from about 50 MW discharge capacity and 8h+ storage capacity. As the capacity increases, more tanks can be added at a relatively low cost.
- In LAES systems, the stored electricity and the system's charging/discharging rate are independent and can be adjusted separately.
Enhances reliability and grid stability
- LAES systems use commonly available materials and are not reliant on limited supply chains like Li-ion batteries, which require lithium and other precious metals.
Flexible and reliable liquid air energy storage systems help mitigate the challenges posed by the reduced grid inertia and short-circuit capacity caused by the increasing integration of renewable energy sources.
Enabling reliable, clean, and flexible energy solutions
The LAES technology allows users to introduce gigawatt hours of energy storage to the market, offering flexibility for deployment in virtually any desired location. Liquid air energy storage is versatile, providing ancillary services across electricity systems — from supporting power generation and stabilizing transmission grids to acting as backup power for end users.
Essential to increasing the absorption of RESs in the power system
As the global energy mix increasingly shifts toward renewable energy sources, grid operators face challenges like intermittency and grid congestion. To address these, Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) maximizes the absorption of RES and minimizes energy curtailment. LAES is the key to realizing a reliable, 100% renewable power system.
LAES plant is long-Lasting and recyclable
A LAES plant usually has a 30-year lifespan, maintaining high performance with minimal degradation. Upon reaching the end of its life, the plant can be fully recycled. This storage solution aligns with the principles of a circular economy, offering sustainable energy storage without capacity loss.