Electricity storage with adiabatic compressed air energy storage: Results of the BMWi-project ADELE-ING

Adiabatic compressed air energy storage (ACAES) uses underground storage for the utility-scale storage of electricity and represents an alternative to pumped hydro storage. The BMWi-funded project ADELE-ING is dedicated to the development of this technology. After its completion in summer 2017 main achievements include the confirmation of a round-trip efficiency of about 70%, the reduction of the capital costs down to the cost level of pumped hydro plants and the elaboration of process schemes for a partial-adiabatic operation for further costs reductions.