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Exploring Porous Media for Compressed Air Energy Storage: Benefits, Challenges, and Technological Insights

Author

Listed:
  • Bao Jia

    (State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing 100083, China
    State Center for Research and Development of Oil Shale Exploitation, Beijing 100083, China
    China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 102249, China)

  • Jianzheng Su

    (State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing 100083, China
    State Center for Research and Development of Oil Shale Exploitation, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

The global transition to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar has created a critical need for effective energy storage solutions to manage their intermittency. This review focuses on compressed air energy storage (CAES) in porous media, particularly aquifers, evaluating its benefits, challenges, and technological advancements. Porous media-based CAES (PM-CAES) offers advantages, including lower costs and broader geographical availability compared to traditional methods. This review synthesizes recent advancements in numerical modeling, simulation, and experimental studies, which have enhanced the understanding of air–water–heat flow interactions and improved efficiency in these systems. Field studies demonstrate that using existing idle and abandoned wells can minimize infrastructure costs and environmental impact. This review underscores the potential of CAES in porous media to support the growing demand for sustainable and reliable energy storage solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Bao Jia & Jianzheng Su, 2024. "Exploring Porous Media for Compressed Air Energy Storage: Benefits, Challenges, and Technological Insights," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:17:p:4459-:d:1471990
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    References listed on IDEAS

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