The world's largest compressed air energy storage station, the second phase of the Jintan Salt Cavern Compressed Air Energy Storage Project, officially broke ground on December 18, 2024 in Changzho.
What is a compressed air energy storage project?
A compressed air energy storage (CAES) project in Hubei, China, has come online, with 300MW/1,500MWh of capacity. The 5-hour duration project, called Hubei Yingchang, was built in two years with a total investment of CNY1.95 billion (US$270 million) and uses abandoned salt mines in the Yingcheng area of Hubei, China's sixth-most populous province.
The $207.8 million energy storage power station has a capacity of 300 MW/1,800 MWh and uses an underground salt cave. Chinese developer ZCGN has completed the construction of a 300 MW compressed air energy storage (CAES) facility in Feicheng, China's Shandong province. The company said the storage plant is the world's largest CAES system to date.
Is underground compressed air energy storage a good idea?
Tina Casey recently wrote that underground compressed air energy storage is getting attention these days because it may be able to generate electricity for as long as eight hours whereas most grid-scale batteries have exhausted their power after three to four hours.
How long would it take to build a pumped hydro energy storage system?
When activated, it was the largest grid-connected CAES project of its size in the world, according to the China Energy Engineering Corporation, which claims an equivalent pumped hydro energy storage system would have taken six to eight years to complete.
How can CAES technology contribute to a low-carbon energy grid?
The Jintan project exemplifies the potential of CAES technology to contribute to a low-carbon energy grid. By leveraging existing salt caverns for energy storage and integrating innovative designs, the project offers a sustainable solution to the intermittency of renewable energy sources.
How much power does a new energy storage facility provide?
The $207.8 million facility boasts an energy storage capacity of 300 MW/1,800 MWh and occupies an area of approximately 100,000 m2. According to ZCGN, it is capable of providing uninterrupted power discharge for up to six hours, ensuring power supplies to between 200,000 and 300,000 local homes during peak consumption periods.