Utilizing Waste Heat to Increase Efficiency of Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage in a Smart Microgrid Environment

I-CAES represents a substantial scientific and technological advancement in mechanical energy storage .

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LightSail Energy

Recipient

Berkeley, CA

Recipient Location

7th

Senate District

14th

Assembly District

closed

Completed

Project Status

Project Result

This project was terminated. LightSail Energy Inc. closed its energy storage division. No work was completed and no funds were disbursed for this project.

The Issue

Due to the increasing threat of climate change and the non-renewable nature of fossil fuels, there is increased impetus to generate electricity from clean, renewable sources, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind. However, these progressive energy sources come with inherent attributes that, with high enough penetration, could pose significant risk to the reliability, safety, and cost of the California electric grid. In order for California to reach its statutory energy goals (specifically those specified in AB32, AB2514, and the RPS), the grid will need extensive penetration of low-cost, high efficiency energy storage.

Project Innovation

LightSail Energy was to install and pilot test a 200kW I-CAES system at the UCI campus in Irvine California. The storage unit was to be operated in conjunction with UCI's 1,000kW solar PV array and 300kW advanced natural gas turbine, all interconnected through an advanced "smart" microgrid. The I-CAES system was to use waste heat from the gas turbine to increase round-trip efficiency. This is possible because I-CAES uses large water tanks as thermal storage, capturing and storing the heat of compression for use when the system is expanding air and producing electricity. The waste heat from the gas turbine was to be captured and stored in the I-CAES thermal storage tanks and later converted into electricity. This project was to provide the state's first real-world data on the operation and performance of an isothermal compressed air energy storage system and its ability to utilize waste heat for increased efficiency.

Project Benefits

To meet California's statutory energy goals AB32, AB2514, and the RPS extensive penetration of low-cost, high efficiency energy storage is needed. This project was to provide California utilities with valuable information that can be used in assessing the costs, benefits and identifying the highest value applications of I-CAES for the California grid.

Lower Costs

Affordability

The proposed I-CAES system will be capable of cutting peak load by 200kW every day, saving thousands of dollars per month in demand charges. Potentially lowering the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by as much as 22% in microgrid settings. And with the addition of heat, the LCOE could be lowered an additional 9%.

Environmental & Public Health

Environmental Sustainability

I-CASE will reduce need for "peaker" plants and expects the first generation commercial product will have a carbon footprint which is 15-50% lower than conventional CAES. This represents a significant technological advancement as well as a marked improvement overall grid efficiency and GHG emissions.

Increase Safety

Safety

I-CAES is one of the few purely mechanical means of storing energy, thus no toxic or flammable chemicals used in the system, which lowers risk of catastrophic failure. As energy storage continues to become a more prevalent asset on the grid, I-CAES provides the safest means of storing electrical energy.

Key Project Members

Project Member

M. Travis O'Guin

Project Manager

Subrecipients

Rocket

University of California, Irvine

Rocket

Match Partners

Rocket

LightSail Energy

Rocket

Contact the Team

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