Compressed air energy storage: Thermodynamic and economic review

Abstract

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is one of the most promising mature electrical energy storage (EES) technologies. In this paper, recent technological and thermodynamic advances in CAES are examined. This review includes an examination of the three major thermodynamic approaches to CAES, an overview of air and thermal storage systems, and an examination of CAES in a distributed application. An economic analysis is then offered in order to determine the commercial viability of this technology.