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Transforming the energy market with clean, reliable and cost-efficient storage
Unlocking the full potential of renewable energy – making it as reliable as conventional power options – depends on the availability of large-scale, long-duration energy storage.
To support an energy market transformation towards 100% renewable energy, we provide Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) technology, developed by our strategic partner Highview Power, to deliver clean, reliable, and cost-efficient long-duration energy storage. This technology will enable users to bring gigawatt hours of energy storage to the market, with the flexibility to be built practically anywhere it’s needed.
Liquid air energy storage is adaptable and can provide ancillary services at all levels of the electricity system. It can support power generation, provide stabilization services to transmission grids and distribution networks, and act as a source of backup power to end users.
We can help you to build and optimize carbon-free energy storage anywhere in the world. And with our full life cycle O&M services you enjoy the 100% carbon free energy with peace of mind.
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Liquid air energy storage technology makes use of a freely available resource – air – which is cooled and stored as a liquid and then converted back into a pressurized gas to drive turbines and produce electricity. Our patented liquid air energy storage technology draws on established processes from the turbo machinery, power generation and industrial gas sectors.
Stage 1. Charging the system
An air liquefier uses electrical energy to draw air from the surrounding environment. The air is then cleaned and cooled to sub-zero temperatures until it liquifies. 700 liters of ambient air become 1 liter of liquid air.
Stage 2. Energy store
The liquid air is stored in insulated tanks at low pressure, which functions as the energy reservoir. Each storage tank can hold a gigawatt hour of stored energy.
Stage 3. Power recovery
When power is required, the stored waste heat from the liquefication process is applied to the liquid air via heat exchangers and an intermediate heat transfer fluid. This produces a high-pressure gas that drives a turbine and generates electricity. Cold energy is also recovered during the regasification and expansion of the stored liquid air, ready to use during the liquefaction process, thereby improving the overall RTE of the LAES plant.
Competitive and scalable
- Proven, reliable and a valuable contributor to the circular economy
- LAES maximizes storage capacity with charging and discharging flexibility. Plants start from about 50 MW discharge capacity, and usually 8h+ storage capacity. As the capacity increases, more tanks are added at a relatively low cost.
- In LAES systems, the amount of electricity stored and the rate at which the system is charged/discharged is decoupled.
- With a small footprint and a high degree of freedom in siting, a LAES plant can be employed at a heavily loaded node in the grid. It can also be used in grid locations with high power flow but low short circuit level – as typical for inverter-connected generation or direct current (DC) links – improving grid strength.
- LAES plants can provide a range of ancillary services, including:
- Grid inertia, reducing the need for system operators to procure ‘Fast Frequency response’ reserves, thereby providing an overall more economical system
- Continuous reactive power compensation and increased short circuit levels in the area it’s connected, reducing losses and improving grid reliability
- Dynamic upward power regulation during plant charging and downward regulation during plant discharge.
- Support in re-energizing a grid after a total black-out.
- LAES will enable the transition towards renewable energy in an affordable, reliable and sustainable way.
- LAES does not rely on a restricted supply chain and uses commonly available materials, unlike LIBs which need a reliable supply of Lithium and other precious metals.
- LAES helps maintain grid stability. As the share of renewable energy increases in power systems, grid stability becomes a growing concern. Fossil-based power plants with large spinning masses are replaced by inverter-connected power generation, like solar PV and wind, reducing grid inertia and short circuit levels.
- The design lifetime of a LAES plant is typically 30 years, during which the performance can be maintained at high levels with negligible degradation over time. The plant can be fully recycled after its end of life. It’s potentially the most sustainable energy storage compatible with circular economy and without capacity degradation.
We can provide LAES as a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solution, including initial feasibility analysis and technology comparisons, optimal plant sizing, design, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. LAES technology will enable renewable energy to power our grids and will accelerate carbon neutrality – for everyone’s benefit.