News

Project to Modularize Gigawatt-scale Cryogenic Energy Storage

January 12, 2019 by Scott McMahan

Highview Power reported that it partnered with Finland-based engineering firm, Citec, to modularize its gigawatt-scale cryogenic energy storage system. The company contends that with a simplified design and streamlined engineering from Citec, a conventional plant configuration of 50 MW and 500 MWh can be easily and economically scaled up to multiple gigawatt hours, or down, without limitation.

"Last year, we launched the world's first grid-scale liquid air energy storage plant, and in 2019 we will be commercializing our long-duration energy storage solutions globally," said Javier Cavada, President and CEO of Highview Power. "Modularizing our liquid air technology will help us deploy our systems more efficiently and cost-effectively, providing an attractive advantage for project developers and investors."

The company says it selected Citec as its engineering partner because of its track record of modularizing industrial plant products, as well as its international resources and clear understanding of completing engineering projects around the world. Highview Power intends to design the first modular solution with a standard configuration of 50 MW and 500 MWh. Then, the solution can be customized to meet the individual needs for various storage capacities.

"This first project is to develop a modular solution for one storage capacity, and from this basis, repeated projects with localization and for varying storage capacities will be developed," said Johan Westermarck, CEO, Citec. "We are very excited to begin work on this first project - both parties' ambition is to create and establish a long-term partnership. The business cooperation with Highview Power is strategically important as it brings Citec to the frontline of new energy solutions that are eagerly needed to balance the increasing solar and wind production capacity."

Highview Power contends that as more renewable energy sources are added to the power grid, giga-scale energy storage is the necessary framework to make such intermittent sources of power reliable enough to become the baseload before it is possible to reach the target of 100 percent renewable power.

"Our cryogenic energy storage systems are equivalent in performance to - and could replace - a fossil fuel power station," said Cavada. Highview Power says its system can also support electricity and distribution systems while offering additional security of supply.

Highview Power's proprietary cryogenic energy storage technology uses a freely available resource air. Air is cooled and stored as a liquid and then converted back into a gas to generate energy that powers turbines that produce electricity. Unlike chemical-based technologies, Highview Power's system operates with the help of the thermodynamic cycle that can work with collocated thermal processes such as Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) regasification plants, peaking plants, and industrial applications.

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According to Highview Power, their system can utilize waste heat and cold streams to improve the efficiency of its customers' main processes by transforming their waste thermal energy into a useful resource for the system.

Highview Power pointed out that the company holds a significant portfolio of patents covering all aspects of its proprietary Liquid Air Energy Storage technology ( LAES, also known as cryogenic energy storage) and its control, protecting innovations related to the process, system components, and methods of operation.