Solar power generation and air energy storage

Existing compressed air energy storage systems often use the released air as part of a natural gas power cycle to produce electricity. Solar power can be used to create new fuels that can be combusted (burned) or consumed to provide energy, effectively storing the solar energy in the chemical bonds.

Ultimately, residential and commercial solar customers, and utilities and large-scale solar operators alike, can benefit from solar-plus-storage systems. As research continues and the costs of solar energy and storage come down, solar and storage solutions will become more accessible to all Americans.

Storage helps solar contribute to the electricity supply even when the sun isn't shining. It can also help smooth out variations in how solar energy flows on the grid. These variations are attributable to changes in the amount of sunlight that shines onto photovoltaic (PV) panels or concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) systems.

In the system they are developing, low-cost renewable electricity is used to compress air for storage during the day, while concentrated solar power feeds a thermal energy storage system. When energy demand is high, the thermal energy is used to heat the compressed air as it is released from storage to drive turbines.

Sometimes energy storage is co-located with, or placed next to, a solar energy system, and sometimes the storage system stands alone, but in either configuration, it can help more effectively integrate solar into the energy landscape. What Is Energy Storage?

As the world shifts toward renewable energy, one major challenge remains: efficient energy storage. An EU-funded research team is exploring the use of compressed air to store excess energy collected from solar panels.