Construction to Begin on World’s Largest Liquid-Air Energy Storage Project

[thackney]

Construction to Begin on World’s Largest Liquid-Air Energy Storage Project
https://www.environmentalleader.com/2021/04/construction-to-begin-on-worlds-largest-liquid-air-energy-storage-project/
APRIL 20, 2021

Construction is underway on a 50 MW liquid-air energy storage facility – with a minimum of 250MWh – located in Greater Manchester, UK. Once complete, the “CRYOBattery” facility will be the largest of its kind in the world. Highview Power, an energy storage company, has partnered with MAN Energy Solutions to provide its LAES turbomachinery solution to Highview Power for the CRYOBattery facility.

The liquid air energy storage plant uses cryogenically-liquefied air as a medium for storing energy. It is especially suitable for special applications that require large amounts of energy over a discharge time of several hours, and enables fluctuating, renewable sources to bear baseloads. The MAN turbomachinery train will form the core of the CRYOBattery facility that, upon completion, will form one of Europe’s largest battery storage systems. This will ultimately supply clean, reliable, and cost-efficient long-duration energy storage – primarily from renewable sources. Both companies agree the Carrington project is a milestone for the future of storage technology and for the United Kingdom’s goal of a 100% clean, carbon-free energy future.

Construction of the CRYOBattery began in late 2020 with commercial operation commencing during 2022. Highview Power will operate the facility in partnership with Carlton Power, a UK independent power-station developer....

[IsailedawayfromFR]

That is a novel one.

I suppose liquified air includes oxygen, nitrogen and other gases such as CO2?

Or is it really just N2?

[thackney]

I am a little doubtful of a technology used to store energy that does not even mention efficiency, which is basically the most critical part of being an economic choice.

https://highviewpower.com/technology/

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Here I find why it is not discussed:

Round trip efficiency is defined here on the basis of useful electricity exported to the grid relative to energy inputs to charge and operate the cryobattery. An efficiency range of 50% to 60% is used here based on interviews with technology provider Highview Power.

https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/87491913/Cryobattery_LCA_report_v1.pdf

For comparison

Pumped hydro energy storage = 70- 85%

Lithium ion batteries = >90%

Redox flow batteries = 75- 85%

https://energycentral.com/c/ee/energy-storage-techniques-comparison-efficiency-and-energy-density

[IsailedawayfromFR]

I am a little doubtful of a technology used to store energy that does not even mention efficiency, which is basically the most critical part of being an economic choice.

https://highviewpower.com/technology/

- - - - - - - - -

Here I find why it is not discussed:

Round trip efficiency is defined here on the basis of useful electricity exported to the grid relative to energy inputs to charge and operate the cryobattery. An efficiency range of 50% to 60% is used here based on interviews with technology provider Highview Power.

https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/files/87491913/Cryobattery_LCA_report_v1.pdf

For comparison

Pumped hydro energy storage = 70- 85%

Lithium ion batteries = >90%

Redox flow batteries = 75- 85%

https://energycentral.com/c/ee/energy-storage-techniques-comparison-efficiency-and-energy-density

Agreed.

Appears to be one more taxpayer subsidized effort in the green category.

Mud does stick to the walls at times.

[Sled Dog]

Why don't they just throw rocks up into the air and catch them when they come down?   Probably have a higher efficiency rating than this silly cryo-battery scheme.

How about just building a 500 Mw nuclear power plant?   Have real energy PRODUCTION, not just "storage".

[Cyber Liberty]

Why don't they just throw rocks up into the air and catch them when they come down?   Probably have a higher efficiency rating than this silly cryo-battery scheme.

How about just building a 500 Mw nuclear power plant?   Have real energy PRODUCTION, not just "storage".

I imagine somebody said something similar when a fellow got the idea to pressurize Freon in a condenser, then release the pressure into an evaporator to make it get cold.