China’s Ambitious Leap in Energy Storage with a Gigantic Twist

In China’s Jiangsu province, the operation of the world’s largest compressed air energy storage (CAES) plant has begun. The facility boasts a capacity of 600 MW and a storage capability of 2.4 GWh, with an expected annual electricity generation of about 792 GWh.

Though it is the largest storage facility of its kind, it is indeed a demonstrative project. Intriguingly, it is located within the Guoxin Suyan Huai’an salt cavern. The installation consists of two sections of 300 MW each, operating without fuel combustion. Energy is accumulated by compressing air and heat generated during the process. The project utilizes advanced energy storage technology using molten salt and thermowater under pressure to manage thermal processes. The efficiency of the installation stands at 71%. The first 300 MW power unit reached full capacity in December, and the second was commissioned earlier this week.

The overall investment in the project is estimated at $520 million. This places it among the most significant investments in the energy storage sector recently, marking a substantial commitment to renewable energy technology and innovation.