Techno-economic assessment and optimized performance of a multi-generation setup composed of a wind turbine and a compressed air energy storage system

Integrating a wind turbine with a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system offers a viable solution for reducing the impact of fluctuations in wind availability and enhancing the reliability and efficiency of renewable energy generation. This combination enables better integration of wind power into the energy grid and supports the transition towards a more sustainable energy future. The system proposed in the study is designed for multi-generation purposes, making it a novel combination of a wind turbine and a CAES system. The CAES system is integrated with two modified Kalina cycles (MKCs), a hot water production unit (HWPU), an air turbine, and an absorption chiller (ACH) for the utmost waste heat recovery of the CAES system. The heat wasted by the generator of the wind turbine is also recuperated through a trilateral cycle (TLC). Hydrogen and freshwater are produced by the configuration using an alkaline electrolyzer and a reverse osmosis desalination system (RODS). The techno-economic optimization conducted in the study indicated an exergy round-trip efficiency (ERTE) of 42.44 % for the proposed setup, which is 14.7 % higher than that of a similar multi-generation layout proposed previously. The power consumption of the CAES system amounts to 1167 kW, whereas the proposed setup generates energy at a rate equivalent to 2057 kW. The system could reduce CO2 emissions by 7058 Tonyear−1 and 4965 Tonyear−1 in the cases of implementation in China and the USA, correspondingly. Moreover, the share of the wind turbine in the total exergy destruction and investment cost rate is 85 % and 76 %, respectively.