{"id":257113,"date":"2010-01-31T16:29:00","date_gmt":"2010-01-31T21:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-842780410181358901"},"modified":"2010-01-31T16:31:20","modified_gmt":"2010-01-31T21:31:20","slug":"compressed-air-energy-storage-caes-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/257113","title":{"rendered":"Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES): Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

GreentechGrid has a post on PG&E\u2019s 300 megawatt Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Project – Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES): Part 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to EPRI’s energy storage expert, Rich Lordan, “CAES (Compressed Air Energy Storage) is going to be important.” (EPRI is the Electric Power Research Institute). …<\/p>\n

Hal LaFlash, Pacific Gas & Electric’s Director of Emerging Clean Technology Policy, spoke on an energy storage panel last week and added a few more pieces of the storage puzzle as it is seen by a major utility. PG&E is looking forward to exploring the 300 megawatt CAES project in Kern County.<\/p>\n

Hal pointed out that we’re going to need help managing the 4,500 megawatts of new wind coming online in California in 2012 from the Tehachapi Pass Wind Project. <\/p>\n

Mr. LaFlash noted that there is already 1,200 megawatts of pumped hydro storage in the mountains above Fresno and that it is “an essential element of the grid in California.”<\/p>\n

The U.S. DOE and PG&E are still working on the details and site information on the Kern County project. <\/p>\n

According to a recent presentation by PG&E Senior Director Andrew Tang, the 300 megawatt – 10 hour plant is suitable for California\u2019s porous rock formations and has a 5-year development lead time for:<\/p>\n

* Economic and geotechnical analysis
* Core drilling
* Siting, permitting and construction<\/p>\n

Note the “porous rock formation” remark made by Tang. The few CAES projects to date have used salt domes, but there is now a movement towards storing the compressed air in a porous rock structure. According to LaFlash, “These structures are used every day for natural gas storage.” Hal also mentioned that natural gas is only cycled a few times a year, while CAES energy storage will be cycled daily. That could present some technical challenges.<\/p>\n

Investigations by EPRI indicate that up to 80 percent of the U.S. has geology suitable for CAES. A single 300 megawatt CAES plant would require 22 million cubic feet of storage space — enough to store eight hours\u2019 worth of electricity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n