World's largest compressed air energy storage station starts expansion in China’s Jiangsu

(ECNS) -- Construction of Phase II of China's first salt cavern compressed air energy storage station has begun in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, according to China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. 

The expansion includes two 350 MW non-combustion compressed air energy storage units with a total volume of 1.2 million cubic meters.

Upon completion, the facility will become the world's largest of its kind in terms of total capacity and power generation efficiency.

It will be capable of storing 2.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per charge and perform an estimated 330 charge-discharge cycles annually.

This is expected to save 270,000 metric tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 520,000 metric tons each year.

Compressed air energy storage technology has emerged in recent years as an innovative solution for large-scale energy storage. Salt caverns, with their vast space, strong sealing properties, and self-healing capabilities, offer a safe, eco-friendly, and cost-effective option.

As a key provincial sci-tech project, it has developed the world's most advanced air turbines and compressor units, with all core equipment now fully domestically produced.