Australia Attracts Energy Storage Startup With The Most Commercially Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage Technology
The Canadian company Hydrostor, one of the leaders in the advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) market, is strategically cooperating with the multinational engineering company AECOM to evaluate Australia’s National Electricity Market and determine possible locations for its Terra energy storage solution. The company states its compressed air technology can provide the lowest installed cost per kWh for bulk energy storage, and ensure back-up network capacity equally well as a new natural gas plant. Being a partner with an industry leader, such as AECOM (107 years of multidisciplinary EPC experience) guarantees Terra’s projects for years to come.
According to Curtis VanWalleghem, Hydrostor’s CEO, Terra energy storage solution is twice cheaper than grid-scale batteries, and has longer life storage of 30+ years. In addition, it surpasses natural gas in delivering essential stabilizing services like inertia, system strength and voltage control; adding flexibility via both fast ramp rates and long duration dispatchable capacity; and lowering emissions.
In terms of location and size, Terra is more versatile than pumped hydro, although it requires nearness to a source of water as part of a closed loop system.
Back in 2015 the company launched the first underwater compressed air electricity storage system and may have contributed for renewable power to gain such a wider acceptance.
Image credit: Hydrostor
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