An alternative to those systems is represented by the liquid air energy storage (LAES) system that uses liquid air as the storage medium. LAES is based on the concept that air at ambient pressure can be liquefied at −196 °C, reducing thus its specific volume of around 700 times, and can be stored in unpressurized vessels.
Additionally, they require large-scale heat accumulators. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) and Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) are innovative technologies that utilize air for efficient energy storage. CAES stores energy by compressing air, whereas LAES technology stores energy in the form of liquid air.
Notably, the most significant contrast lies in the fundamental nature of their primary energy storage mechanisms. LAES, or Liquid Air Energy Storage, functions by storing energy in the form of thermal energy within highly cooled liquid air.
Novel concepts like waste heat utilization liquid air energy storage (WHU-LAES) systems have been proposed to enhance overall system performance. Develop and test new materials with improved thermal properties for more efficient cold energy storage and heat exchange in LAES systems.
In this context, liquid air energy storage (LAES) has recently emerged as feasible solution to provide 10-100s MW power output and a storage capacity of GWhs.
The liquid air storage section and the liquid air release section showed an exergy efficiency of 94.2% and 61.1%, respectively. In the system proposed, part of the cold energy released from the LNG was still wasted to the environment.