Generation using renewable energy is popular worldwide at present, and a rise of the amount of electric power generation and the efficiency and the decrease of the building cost because of technological improvement can be seen every year. But output leveling of renewable energy and storing and reusing of surplus energy are often mentioned as issues of renewable energy generation. So, the development of energy storage technology is necessary for more effective generation. One of solutions is the CAES system.
New Energy Storage System
What is the CAES?
2. What is the CAES ?
CAES is hybrid technology of storage and generation of electricity, not just electricity storage technology.
This can cover the power output during peak periods when the energy is needed most.
Compressed air energy storage is called CAES, which uses renewable energy to store and produce pressure energy.
4. Suitable energy storage for Japan:
Underwater CAES
The CAES’s storage capacity is high compared with other storage systems.
Name , Department of Electronics and Material physics,
School of engineering science, Osaka University
Figure2: Comparative reports on CAES and other storage systems
1. Excess or off-peak power is used to compress air.
2. Air is pumped underground and stored for later uses.
4. The electricity produced is delivered back onto the grid.
3. When electricity is needed, the compressed air is used to run turbines.
Demerits
・The storage tank underground is easily affected by the earthquake
・There are few candidate sites in Japan.
3. How great is the CAES ?
Merits
・This construction is simple and takes less money.
・We can produce almost all facilities in a factory
5. Discussion
Figure3: Underwater CAES system
Retrieved from URL https://www.sierraclub
Figure1: The CAES system
Retrieved from URL https://www.pge.com
1. Introduction
Is there not the better solution of the storage?
Underwater CAES system is most suitable for Japan surrounded by the sea and has good earthquake resistance.
Balloons
Figure4: Underwater CAES’s balloon
Retrieved from URL https://polizeros.com
This balloon is made of reinforced concrete. The storage capacity is 250 MWh, which is low compared with the crust CAES. But making this a greater capacity is relatively easy, and this system has good potential.
Compressed air
Water pressure
We put a storage balloon in the bottom of the sea and can save air using the water pressure there.
When we install a storage tank in the deeper place and raise air pressure, it is possible to make it smaller, and the building cost can be reduced.
Because there are not many difficult problems in Underwater CAES, commercialization will be possible as an alternative technology of the pumping-up power generation in the near future. This will take the important role that put itself and other marine structures together to supply more energy. We need to do detailed examination for our future.