Chalmers Conferences, LCM 2013

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE (CAES)
Evert A. Bouman, Martha M. Øberg, Edgar G. Hertwich

Last modified: 2014-09-11

Abstract


This paper discusses the potential environmental impacts associated with the use of a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) as a means of stabilizing the electricity output of a wind farm with a capacity of 150 MW. An integrated hybrid life cycle assessment model was employed to model the potential environmental impacts of several compressed air energy storage systems. Results show that the potential environmental impacts associated with compressed air energy storage are strongly correlated with the size and (method of) construction of the underground storage cavity. We conclude that this particular means of energy storage is, from an environmental perspective, only advisable under certain conditions, such as the expectation of a very long (centuries) operational lifetime or the occurrence of a natural storage location eliminating the need for large infrastructural operations.

Keywords


CAES; LCA; Wind power

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