Compressed Air Storage Capex: BloombergNEF (BNEF) data from 2023-2024 highlights compressed air storage costs around $293 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of capacity in global averages, with some variation by geography and project scale. . The costs of compressed air energy storage (CAES) compare favorably to other long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies, often being among the least expensive options available, though several nuances apply depending on region, storage duration, and system specifics. At a utility scale, energy generated during periods of low demand can be released during peak load periods. [1] The first utility-scale CAES project was in the Huntorf power plant in Elsfleth, Germany. . Our base case for Compressed Air Energy Storage costs require a 26c/kWh storage spread to generate a 10% IRR at a $1,350/kW CAES facility, with 63% round-trip efficiency, charging and discharging 365 days per year. To address this, here we compiled and analyzed a global emerging adiabatic CAES cost database, showing a continuous cost reduction with an experience rate of 15% as capacities scaled from. . CAES offers a powerful means to store excess electricity by using it to compress air, which can be released and expanded through a turbine to generate electricity when the grid requires additional power. First proposed in the mid-20th century, CAES technology has gained renewed attention in the. .
