Loads Of Renewable Energy Can Be Stored In The Air

The article discusses the emerging technology of liquid air energy storage (LAES) as a promising solution for long-duration renewable energy storage. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which typically provide only several hours of storage and face cost and supply chain limitations, LAES offers the potential for extended storage durations—up to 10 hours in the case of the new projects—and benefits such as longer lifespans, scalability, and less reliance on geopolitically sensitive materials. The technology involves compressing and cooling air to a liquid state at around -194°C, storing it in atmospheric-pressure tanks, and then re-gasifying it to generate electricity when demand peaks, using heat recovered from the compression process. A notable recent development is the 60-megawatt, 10-hour demonstration facility in Golmud, located in China’s Gobi Desert, developed by the state-owned China Green Development Investment Group (CGDG). This project, powered by surplus solar energy, represents one of the largest LAES facilities in the