DOE International Energy Storage Database (beta)

In-ground Natural Gas Combustion Compressed Air Storage

1st commercial CAES plant, operational since 1978. The 290-MW plant utilizes nuclear-sourced night-time power for compression and produces peak power during the day via a natural gas turbine. The facility stores the compressed air in two "solution-mined" salt caverns which comprise a total of 310,000 cubic meters. (Water was pumped into and out of a salt deposit to dissolve the salt and form the cavern.) The depth of the caverns is more than 600 m which ensures the stability of the air for several months' storage, and guarantees the specified maximum pressure of 100 bar. One cavern is cycled on a diurnal basis. The second cavern serves as a black start asset if the nearby nuclear power plant unexpectedly goes down.