National compressed gas energy storage

What is compressed air energy storage?

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is another large-scale/capacity storage technology that has been considered where PSH is not feasible. With CAES, off-peak electricity is used to compress atmospheric air into underground hard-rock or salt caverns using reversible motors/generators turning a chain of gas compressors.

How much natural gas does a compressor station use?

The typical unit at a compressor station is rated at least 1,000 horsepower (0.75 megawatts). 3 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (U.S. Energy Information Administration 2008). JISEA/NREL evaluated clean energy options for an all-electric compressor station located in Texas.

Can Unplugged Wells be injected with compressed natural gas?

Unplugged wellscan be injected with compressed natural gas, researchers at NREL and Mines determined after conducting multiple rounds of computer simulations. Writing in the Journal of Energy Resources Technology, the scientists predicted the technology would work for both short-term and long-term energy storage.

Does NREL's reopt tool work for a natural gas compressor station?

In this study, analysts from the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluated clean power technologies for a natural gas compressor station in Texas, using NREL’s REopt tool.

How many kilowatts can a compressed natural gas well produce?

Their calculations show that depending upon the temperature and pressure in the well, the use of compressed natural gas to produce electricity can generate fromhundreds of kilowatts to nearly a megawatt of power. The technology, dubbed REFRAES (for REpurposed FRAcked wells for Energy Storage), relies on a four-phase process.

Which energy storage technology has the lowest cost?

The “Energy Storage Grand Challenge” prepared by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) reports that among all energy storage technologies, compressed air energy storage (CAES) offers the lowest total installed cost for large-scale application (over 100 MW and 4 h).