http://en.people.cn/n3/2024/1218/c90000-20255577.html

The world’s largest compressed-air energy storage power station, the second phase of the Jintan Salt Cavern Compressed-Air Energy Storage Project, officially broke ground in Changzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, marking a key milestone in China’s energy storage advancements. Plans are to build two 350-megawatt non-supplementary fired compressed air energy storage units, with a total volume of 1.2 million cubic meters, making it the largest in unit capacity, storage volume, and efficiency. Once completed, the project will store 2.8 million kilowatt-hours per charge, powering up to 100,000 electric vehicles. It will save 270,000 tons of standard coal annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 520,000 tons.

The compressed-air energy storage station offers large capacity, long storage time (over 4 hours), and efficient response, making it comparable to small and medium-sized pumped storage power plants. The system operates without combustion, producing zero carbon emissions, and has a lifespan of up to 50 years.

Salt cavern compressed-air energy storage, dubbed as the underground “green power bank,” stores electricity by compressing air into underground salt caverns during off-peak times. The air is then released during peak demand to generate electricity, balancing supply and demand.