There is an ambitious project out there that is looking to store renewable energy while reducing emissions that are responsible for global warming. Recently, construction started on something that is slated to become the world’s most massive liquid air battery. If it works just like it was imagined, renewable energy might just be in for a revolution. Meet the CO2 killer.
Storage As The Bottleneck
Most forms of renewable energy are suffering from the same problem. While the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, there will be sufficient energy. Generally, more is generated than is consumed at the time. This is not the problem yet. There are times that the sun does not shine or the wind does not blow. No energy is created. Ideally, we would like to use the ‘extra’ energy generated in periods of heavy sunlight or wind speeds, but unfortunately, that is not as easy as it sounds. As it stands, we are mainly unable to store this excess renewable energy. That is the problem.
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This Manchester-area launched project takes this ‘extra’ green energy and uses it to compress air into a liquid. This liquid is subsequently stored. At times when demand exceeds supply, this liquid air will be released back into a gas, which is used to power a turbine that will ‘re-create’ the green energy - that can eventually be fed back into the grid.
The liquid air storage facility in Manchester
It might just be part of the solution to global warming. We need much more wind and solar energy, but the storage problem is a significant bottleneck. Now, a company named Highview Power is developing this battery, which is to be operational by 2022. At that time, the company predicts, it should be able to provide green energy to some 200,000 homes for five hours. Also, power could be stored for many weeks.
Liquid Air Energy Storage | TTN Clips
Storing Excess Energy
The concept is not entirely new. Many have experimented with chemical batteries as a means of storing excess energy. While the battery’s prices have dropped significantly, they are still looking at a serious issue when it comes to the amount of energy that can be stored. Plus, they can be pretty polluting to make. The liquid air battery once again avoids these issues, as it can be constructed anywhere. Air is all around us and not a scarce resource. It is all that is needed.
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Recognizing its potential, the government of the UK has supported this project with a whopping £10 million grant, meant to set up the facility to house this exciting technology. The company estimates that they will need a total of £85 million to make the first facility in the Trafford Energy Park a reality. Most of it was funded through governments, although some private companies have pitched in as well.
The United Kingdom Wants More Renewables
It fits in rather well with the UK government’s mission to make its economy greener. As of now, only 30% of the total electricity grid is comprised of renewable energy. The reliance on fossil fuels is still too high, with all experts citing the storage-issue as having effectively capped renewable energy’s potential. The hole in the market for medium-to-long duration electricity storage technologies is glaring, while other technologies - including pumped hydro and gravity storage - are still at the infant stage.
Graph storage liquid air
The solution of liquid air storage is not just more developed; it might also be more scalable. This puts Highview Power in a high position. It is up to them to prove the technology’s worth in years to come. We are hopeful.
Before you go!
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