The pre-commercial scale 5MW liquid air energy storage (LAES) plant has received delivery of its main components and will be built in Manchester (UK).The project is expected to have a 15MWh storage capacity and should be completed by the end of this year. LAES operates by using excess electrical energy to drive an air liquefier. The liquid air is stored in an insulated tank at low pressure, which functions as the energy store.
When power is required, liquid air is used to drive a turbine and generator. The flexibility that electricity storage offers not only allows greater deployment of low carbon generation, but provides vital services, such as frequency response and inertia, to ensure a secure and stable electricity supply. As one of the first LAES demonstrators in the world it provides a unique opportunity to provide grid balancing services. Read more at http://www.imeche.org/
