Deep in the Gobi Desert of Qinghai province, huge white tanks stand out like giant marshmallows in a gravel plain. But these are no ordinary containers—they're liquid air batteries storing energy at a frosty -194°C! 🔋❄️
It's the Qinghai 60,000-kW/600,000-kWh liquid air energy storage demo project – the world's largest under construction – built by China Green Development Investment Group. Now in its final commissioning stage, it's set to transform how we store renewable power. ⚡️
The project team, including experts from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, overcame key tech hurdles like ultra-low-temperature cascade processes for cold storage and developed an atmospheric-pressure cryogenic system for safe, efficient operation. 🧪
Here's the lowdown: during low-demand hours, surplus electricity runs compressors that turn purified air into high-pressure gas. It's then chilled in a cold box until it liquefies, and stored in safe, atmospheric-pressure tanks. Bonus: heat from compression is captured for later use. 🔄
When the grid needs a boost, the liquid air is pressurized and warmed – using stored cold and recovered heat – to become high-pressure gas again. That gas drives turbines, generating electricity in a closed loop: 'store off-peak, use at peak'. Simple, right? 🚀
Liquid air holds about 750 times more energy per volume than normal air, so it packs a punch without safety worries. No CO2 or pollutants, a long lifespan, and no site limits – perfect for harsh spots like deserts or plateaus. 🌍🔥
Once up and running, each full 'charge' can release 600,000 kWh over 10 hours – enough juice for 30,000 homes yearly (around 180 million kWh). Plus, a 250 MW solar farm will recharge the system with green energy. 🌞🔋
Why it matters: renewable energy often gets wasted when the grid has too much wind or solar power. This liquid air tech offers a fresh solution, paving the way for more clean-energy bases in arid regions. A truly global game-changer from China's Gobi Desert! 🌐💪
Stay tuned as this mega 'Air Battery' gears up to reshape clean energy storage – proof that innovation can thrive even in the most extreme corners of our planet.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
