Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) in Salt Caverns

Salt caverns or mines have been used to store air under high pressure.

• Compressors use off-peak electricity to fill the cavern with compressed air.



• For peaking demand, the compressed air is withdrawn from the cavern, blended with natural gas, and used to drive a gas turbine to generate electricity.



• CAES Plants of 110 – 290 MW exist.

See DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Web Site for more information on this topic.

Figure provided by Ridge Energy Storage & Grid Services LP