Liquid air energy storage systems: A review
O. O'Callaghan, Philip Donnellan
Abstract
Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) systems are thermal energy storage systems which take electrical and thermal energy as inputs, create a thermal energy reservoir, and regenerate electrical and thermal energy output on demand. These systems have been suggested for use in grid scale energy storage, demand side management and for facilitating an increase in renewable power integration into the current power network. This paper presents a comprehensive review of LAES systems, ranging from the first known mention of LAES systems in literature to the most recent studies. This review covers liquefaction systems, power generation systems, integrated systems (combining LAES with other industrial processes) and physical LAES plant demonstrations. Although significant analysis of LAES systems has been done to date, there remains a gap between published LAES literature, and how LAES systems would operate optimally at large scale. To bridge this gap, future LAES research should involve multivariate analysis of LAES systems under dynamic, transient conditions, with the aim of identifying and potential design implications, and to further assess the operational and economic viability of LAES systems in use at large scale. This paper aims to achieve a holistic, critical review of all published work relating to LAES systems.