Centralized and Integrated Decentralized Compressed Air Energy Storage for Enhanced Grid Integration of Wind Power

Abstract

In this paper, we model the economic feasibility of compressed air energy storage (CAES) to improve wind power integration. The Base Case is a wind park with 100 MW of installed capacity and no storage facility. In Variant 1 we add a central CAES system with 90 MW of compressor and 180 MW of generation capacity. The compressed air is stored in a cavern. The CAES system is operated independently of the wind park such that profits from peak power sales at the spot market and reserve power market are maximized. Variant 2 is an integrated, decentralized CAES system, where each wind turbine is equipped with a compressor but no generator. The compressed air is stored in a cavern and converted into electricity by a turbine, again maximizing profit as a peak power plant. Both variants are modeled for conventional diabatic and the more advanced adiabatic systems.