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Inter-seasonal compressed-air energy storage using saline aquifers

Author

Listed:
  • Julien Mouli-Castillo

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Mark Wilkinson

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Dimitri Mignard

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Christopher McDermott

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • R. Stuart Haszeldine

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Zoe K. Shipton

    (University of Strathclyde)

Abstract

Meeting inter-seasonal fluctuations in electricity production or demand in a system dominated by renewable energy requires the cheap, reliable and accessible storage of energy on a scale that is currently challenging to achieve. Commercially mature compressed-air energy storage could be applied to porous rocks in sedimentary basins worldwide, where legacy data from hydrocarbon exploration are available, and if geographically close to renewable energy sources. Here we present a modelling approach to predict the potential for compressed-air energy storage in porous rocks. By combining this with an extensive geological database, we provide a regional assessment of this potential for the United Kingdom. We find the potential storage capacity is equivalent to approximately 160% of the United Kingdom’s electricity consumption for January and February 2017 (77–96 TWh), with a roundtrip energy efficiency of 54–59%. This UK storage potential is achievable at costs in the range US$0.42–4.71 kWh−1.

Suggested Citation

  • Julien Mouli-Castillo & Mark Wilkinson & Dimitri Mignard & Christopher McDermott & R. Stuart Haszeldine & Zoe K. Shipton, 2019. "Inter-seasonal compressed-air energy storage using saline aquifers," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(2), pages 131-139, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:4:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1038_s41560-018-0311-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0311-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Mouli-Castillo, Julien & Heinemann, Niklas & Edlmann, Katriona, 2021. "Mapping geological hydrogen storage capacity and regional heating demands: An applied UK case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    2. Maximilian Parzen & Fabian Neumann & Addrian H. Van Der Weijde & Daniel Friedrich & Aristides Kiprakis, 2021. "Beyond cost reduction: Improving the value of energy storage in electricity systems," Papers 2101.10092, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2022.
    3. Li, Yi & Liu, Yaning & Li, Yi & Hu, Bin & Gai, Peng, 2023. "Potential influences of leakage through a high permeability path on shallow aquifers in compressed air energy storage in aquifers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 661-676.
    4. Gasanzade, Firdovsi & Pfeiffer, Wolf Tilmann & Witte, Francesco & Tuschy, Ilja & Bauer, Sebastian, 2021. "Subsurface renewable energy storage capacity for hydrogen, methane and compressed air – A performance assessment study from the North German Basin," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Zhang, Xiong & Liu, Wei & Jiang, Deyi & Qiao, Weibiao & Liu, Enbin & Zhang, Nan & Fan, Jinyang, 2021. "Investigation on the influences of interlayer contents on stability and usability of energy storage caverns in bedded rock salt," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    6. Li, Yi & Yu, Hao & Tang, Dong & Li, Yi & Zhang, Guijin & Liu, Yaning, 2022. "A comparison of compressed carbon dioxide energy storage and compressed air energy storage in aquifers using numerical methods," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 1130-1153.
    7. Qin, Chao (Chris) & Loth, Eric, 2021. "Isothermal compressed wind energy storage using abandoned oil/gas wells or coal mines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    8. Wu, Di & Wang, J.G. & Hu, Bowen & Yang, Sheng-Qi, 2020. "A coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical model for evaluating air leakage from an unlined compressed air energy storage cavern," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 907-920.
    9. Li, Yi & Yu, Hao & Li, Yi & Liu, Yaning & Zhang, Guijin & Tang, Dong & Jiang, Zhongming, 2020. "Numerical study on the hydrodynamic and thermodynamic properties of compressed carbon dioxide energy storage in aquifers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1318-1338.
    10. Li, Yi & Liu, Yaning & Hu, Bin & Li, Yi & Dong, Jiawei, 2020. "Numerical investigation of a novel approach to coupling compressed air energy storage in aquifers with geothermal energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    11. Guo, Chaobin & Li, Cai & Zhang, Keni & Cai, Zuansi & Ma, Tianran & Maggi, Federico & Gan, Yixiang & El-Zein, Abbas & Pan, Zhejun & Shen, Luming, 2021. "The promise and challenges of utility-scale compressed air energy storage in aquifers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    12. Zhao, Yongliang & Song, Jian & Liu, Ming & Zhao, Yao & Olympios, Andreas V. & Sapin, Paul & Yan, Junjie & Markides, Christos N., 2022. "Thermo-economic assessments of pumped-thermal electricity storage systems employing sensible heat storage materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 431-456.
    13. Li, Yi & Yu, Hao & Li, Yi & Luo, Xian & Liu, Yinjiang & Zhang, Guijin & Tang, Dong & Liu, Yaning, 2023. "Full cycle modeling of inter-seasonal compressed air energy storage in aquifers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    14. Bennett, Jeffrey A. & Fitts, Jeffrey P. & Clarens, Andres F., 2022. "Compressed air energy storage capacity of offshore saline aquifers using isothermal cycling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    15. Chen, Longxiang & Zhang, Liugan & Yang, Huipeng & Xie, Meina & Ye, Kai, 2022. "Dynamic simulation of a Re-compressed adiabatic compressed air energy storage (RA-CAES) system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    16. He, Wei & Dooner, Mark & King, Marcus & Li, Dacheng & Guo, Songshan & Wang, Jihong, 2021. "Techno-economic analysis of bulk-scale compressed air energy storage in power system decarbonisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    17. Bennett, Jeffrey A. & Simpson, Juliet G. & Qin, Chao & Fittro, Roger & Koenig, Gary M. & Clarens, Andres F. & Loth, Eric, 2021. "Techno-economic analysis of offshore isothermal compressed air energy storage in saline aquifers co-located with wind power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).

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