Wind Energy Storage Integration

Participants: Dr. Eric Loth, Dr. Chris Qin, Juliet Simpson

FRIL works on multiple forms of energy storage for wind energy integration, including Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage (ICAES) and Liquid Metal Battery (LMB) storage. Adding storage to a wind energy system can increase value in the form of energy or capacity revenue and decrease costs in the form of electrical infrastructure. Energy storage can be used to shift renewable generation to times when electrical demand is high on the grid.

For ICAES systems, FRIL is further developing a numerical code for modeling compression with spray cooling to increase efficiency. They are also investigating offshore compressed air storage in saline aquifers, where compressed air is stored in porous underground structures rather than in compressed air tanks. Additionally, FRIL has developed a method to leverage ICAES to generate significantly more wind power via a new control strategy, resulting in a provisional patent.

These different forms of energy storage are all being investigated with the goal of better integrating wind turbines onto the electrical grid and improving their ability to meet demand.

Figure 1: Battery storage system integrated into the substructure of an offshore wind turbine to increase the value and decrease the variability of the generated power to shore.

Figure 2: Schematic of liquid piston compression with spray cooling.

Figure 3: Isothermal compressed air energy storage process model for offshore storage in an underground saline aquifer.