IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v332y2025ics0360544225027665.html

Enhancing flexibility of coal-fired power plants via compressed air energy storage integration: A 4E (Energy, Exergy, Economic, Environmental) and operational performance analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Lei
  • Wang, Honggang
  • Feng, Ziyang
  • Fan, Yongsheng
  • Yao, Zhen
  • Cui, Shuangshuang

Abstract

This study presents an innovative integration of a coal-fired power plant (CFPP) with a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system to enhance operational flexibility and efficiency. A comprehensive 4E (Energy, Exergy, Economic, Environmental) thermoeconomic model was developed to evaluate the coupled system, with a focus on quantifying performance metrics under low-load conditions. Key quantitative findings demonstrate that the integrated system achieves a round-trip efficiency (RTE) of 85.1 % and reduces the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) by 23 % compared to standalone CAES systems. The feedwater temperature of the CFPP is elevated by 60.3 °C at 40 % turbine heat acceptance (THA) load condition, significantly improving boiler efficiency and enabling a 20 °C increase in economizer outlet flue gas temperature, thereby stabilizing denitrification system performance. Economically, the total equipment procurement cost is $36.83 million, corresponding to a LCOE at $0.165/kWh, with air compressors and expanders together accounting for more than 60 % of the capital expenditure. Environmentally, annual CO2 emissions are reduced by 13,618 tons through enhanced energy utilization of CFPP. Operational constraints reveal that the maximum allowable CAES capacity is 137.28 MW under 40 % THA load condition, limited by deaerator steam flow requirements. These results validate the system's ability to address low-load instability in CFPPs while balancing cost-effectiveness and decarbonization goals, offering actionable insights for grid-scale energy storage integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Lei & Wang, Honggang & Feng, Ziyang & Fan, Yongsheng & Yao, Zhen & Cui, Shuangshuang, 2025. "Enhancing flexibility of coal-fired power plants via compressed air energy storage integration: A 4E (Energy, Exergy, Economic, Environmental) and operational performance analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:332:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225027665
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137124
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225027665
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.137124?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gimelli, A. & Mottola, F. & Muccillo, M. & Proto, D. & Amoresano, A. & Andreotti, A. & Langella, G., 2019. "Optimal configuration of modular cogeneration plants integrated by a battery energy storage system providing peak shaving service," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 974-993.
    2. He, Tianyu & Cao, Yue & Si, Fengqi & Chua, Kian Jon, 2024. "Off-design characteristics and operation strategy analysis of a compressed carbon dioxide energy storage system coupled with a combined heating and power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    3. Shi, Xingping & He, Qing & Liu, Yixue & An, Xugang & Zhang, Qianxu & Du, Dongmei, 2024. "Thermodynamic and techno-economic analysis of a novel compressed air energy storage system coupled with coal-fired power unit," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    4. Yong, Qingqing & Jin, Kaiyuan & Li, Xiaobo & Yang, Ronggui, 2023. "Thermo-economic analysis for a novel grid-scale pumped thermal electricity storage system coupled with a coal-fired power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    5. Song, Siming & Liu, Pei & Li, Zheng, 2022. "Low carbon transition of China's electric and heating sector considering reliability: A modelling and optimization approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    6. Zhao, Pan & Dai, Yiping & Wang, Jiangfeng, 2014. "Design and thermodynamic analysis of a hybrid energy storage system based on A-CAES (adiabatic compressed air energy storage) and FESS (flywheel energy storage system) for wind power application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 674-684.
    7. Valero, Antonio & Lozano, Miguel A. & Serra, Luis & Tsatsaronis, George & Pisa, Javier & Frangopoulos, Christos & von Spakovsky, Michael R., 1994. "CGAM problem: Definition and conventional solution," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 279-286.
    8. Costoya, X. & deCastro, M. & Carvalho, D. & Gómez-Gesteira, M., 2023. "Assessing the complementarity of future hybrid wind and solar photovoltaic energy resources for North America," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    9. Wang, Ligang & Yang, Yongping & Dong, Changqing & Morosuk, Tatiana & Tsatsaronis, George, 2014. "Multi-objective optimization of coal-fired power plants using differential evolution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 254-264.
    10. Fu, Hailun & Hua, Qingsong & Shi, Juan & Sun, Li, 2023. "Photothermal-assisted scheme design and thermodynamic analysis of advanced adiabatic compressed air energy storage system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    11. Trojan, Marcin & Taler, Dawid & Dzierwa, Piotr & Taler, Jan & Kaczmarski, Karol & Wrona, Jan, 2019. "The use of pressure hot water storage tanks to improve the energy flexibility of the steam power unit," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 926-936.
    12. Martínez-Lera, S. & Ballester, J. & Martínez-Lera, J., 2013. "Analysis and sizing of thermal energy storage in combined heating, cooling and power plants for buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 127-142.
    13. Löbberding, Laurens & Madlener, Reinhard, 2019. "Techno-economic analysis of micro fuel cell cogeneration and storage in Germany," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1603-1613.
    14. Sun, Yang & Wang, Ligang & Xu, Cheng & Van herle, Jan & Maréchal, François & Yang, Yongping, 2020. "Enhancing the operational flexibility of thermal power plants by coupling high-temperature power-to-gas," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    15. Jun Zhao & Xiaonan Wang & Jinsheng Chu, 2022. "The Strategies for Increasing Grid-Integrated Share of Renewable Energy with Energy Storage and Existing Coal Fired Power Generation in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, June.
    16. Sadeghi, Mohsen & Chitsaz, Ata & Mahmoudi, S.M.S. & Rosen, Marc A., 2015. "Thermoeconomic optimization using an evolutionary algorithm of a trigeneration system driven by a solid oxide fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 191-204.
    17. Zhou, Shenghui & He, Yang & Chen, Haisheng & Xu, Yujie & Deng, Jianqiang, 2020. "Performance analysis of a novel adiabatic compressed air energy system with ejectors enhanced charging process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    18. Guo, Huan & Xu, Yujie & Zhang, Xinjing & Zhou, Xuezhi & Chen, Haisheng, 2020. "Transmission characteristics of exergy for novel compressed air energy storage systems-from compression and expansion sections to the whole system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Qianting & Zhang, Cancan & Wu, Yuting, 2026. "Thermo-economic performance and operational strategies analysis of AA-CAES system integrated with low melting point molten salt TES," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    2. Zhou, Dao & Liu, Ming & Wang, Zhenzhen & Fu, Yu & Zhang, Kezhen & Yan, Junjie, 2025. "Design and performance evaluation of a new steam/water hybrid thermal energy storage system integrated within a coal-fired power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shi, Xingping & He, Qing & Liu, Yixue & An, Xugang & Zhang, Qianxu & Du, Dongmei, 2024. "Thermodynamic and techno-economic analysis of a novel compressed air energy storage system coupled with coal-fired power unit," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    2. Wang, Peng & Wang, Chaoyang & Xiao, Qi & Huang, Chonghai & Liu, Ming & Chen, Weixiong & Yan, Junjie, 2025. "Enhancing the ramp-up flexibility of the coal-fired power plant under deep peak shaving work conditions by adopting a sliding steam temperature Scheme," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    3. Cao, Jingchuan & Gao, Jianmin & Du, Qian & Li, Jinshi & Zhang, Tianhang & Gao, Hanyang & Dong, Heming & Zhang, Yu & Li, Ximei, 2025. "Flexibility improvement in thermal power units by coupling with adsorption-based compressed CO2 energy storage system: A comprehensive analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    4. Cao, Jingchuan & Gao, Jianmin & Zhu, Ju & Du, Qian & Huang, Heqiu & Zhou, Qi & Li, Jinshi, 2026. "Exploring the potential of an adsorption-based compressed CO2 energy storage system improving the operational flexibility of thermal power units: Full operating conditions performance and techno-economic assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PH).
    5. Yan, Hui & Liu, Ming & Wang, Zhu & Zhang, Kezhen & Chong, Daotong & Yan, Junjie, 2023. "Flexibility enhancement of solar-aided coal-fired power plant under different direct normal irradiance conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).
    6. Hu, Dongzi & Zhao, Mingzhi & Zhang, Chengfeng & Zhu, Yilin & Xu, Yujie & Shen, Guoqing & Chen, Haisheng, 2025. "Performance analysis of coal-fired power plant with carbon capture integrated with a supercritical compressed carbon dioxide energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    7. Shamoushaki, Moein & Ehyaei, M.A. & Ghanatir, Farrokh, 2017. "Exergy, economic and environmental analysis and multi-objective optimization of a SOFC-GT power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 515-531.
    8. Liu, Zefeng & Wang, Chaoyang & Fan, Jianlin & Liu, Ming & Xing, Yong & Yan, Junjie, 2024. "Enhancing the flexibility and stability of coal-fired power plants by optimizing control schemes of throttling high-pressure extraction steam," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    9. Guo, Huan & Xu, Yujie & Kang, Haoyuan & Guo, Wenbing & Liu, Yu & Zhang, Xinjing & Zhou, Xuezhi & Chen, Haisheng, 2023. "From theory to practice: Evaluating the thermodynamic design landscape of compressed air energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    10. Kler, Aleksandr M. & Potanina, Yulia M. & Marinchenko, Andrey Y., 2020. "Co-optimization of thermal power plant flowchart, thermodynamic cycle parameters, and design parameters of components," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    11. Cui, Kunpeng & Wang, Chenyu & Liu, Zhenfei & Fu, Deran & Chen, Guo & Li, Wen & Nie, Lei & Shen, Yijun & Xu, Yonghong & Kuang, Rao, 2025. "Efficiency analysis of ocean compressed air energy storage system under constant volume air storage conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    12. Liu, Zhongyan & Shao, Jiawei & Guan, Hongwei & Jin, Xu & Zhang, Hao & Li, Heng & Su, Wei & Sun, Dahan, 2025. "Thermo-economic and advanced exergy analysis of a novel liquid carbon dioxide energy storage system coupled with solar energy and liquefied natural gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    13. Zhu, Chenjie & Sun, Yang & Zheng, Guangdong & Li, Dukang & Xu, Cheng & Wu, Ruipeng & Jiang, Huawei & Yang, Qirong, 2025. "Discharging via the low-pressure section of the thermal power plant: a new integrated Carnot battery concept and the performance evaluation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    14. Uchman, Wojciech & Kotowicz, Janusz & Li, Kin Fun, 2021. "Evaluation of a micro-cogeneration unit with integrated electrical energy storage for residential application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    15. Qing, Shaowei & Ren, Shangkun & Wang, Yan & Wen, Xiankui & Zhong, Jingliang & Tang, Shengli & Peng, E., 2024. "Compressed air energy storage system with an ejector integrated in energy-release stage: Where is the optimal location of constant-pressure operation?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 375(C).
    16. Zhou, Jing & Duan, Fei & Wang, Yi & Su, Sheng & Hu, Song & Xiang, Jun, 2024. "Dynamic assessment of 1000 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power flexibility retrofitting through lean- and rich-fuel integrated gas turbine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    17. Wang, Zhu & Liu, Ming & Yan, Hui & Yan, Junjie, 2022. "Optimization on coordinate control strategy assisted by high-pressure extraction steam throttling to achieve flexible and efficient operation of thermal power plants," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PA).
    18. Huang, Lujing & Guo, Huan & Xiong, Baichuan & Xu, Yujie & Huang, Jingjian & Zhu, Yilin & Chen, Haisheng, 2024. "A coupled design methodology concerning complex off-design operation for compressed air energy storage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    19. Zhang, Dong & Li, Yueyi & Su, Xinyue & Ding, Yong & An, Zhoujian & Du, Xiaoze, 2026. "Solar-integrated trans-critical compressed CO2 energy storage system: A key solution for long-duration energy storage application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    20. Sahu, Mithilesh Kumar & Sanjay,, 2017. "Comparative exergoeconomics of power utilities: Air-cooled gas turbine cycle and combined cycle configurations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 42-51.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:332:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225027665. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.