Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES)
Business Overview
Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) is a large-scale, long-duration energy storage technology. At its core, during periods of excess electricity supply (e.g., peak output from renewable energy generation), electric power drives an air liquefaction unit to cool air to below −196°C, converting it into liquid air for storage. During peak electricity demand, the liquid air is pressurized, vaporized, and used to drive an expander to generate power and feed electricity back to the grid. The system typically integrates cold and thermal energy recovery to improve overall energy efficiency.
Composition of LAES System
Charging (Liquefaction) System
Consists of air compressors, purification units (removing moisture, CO₂, etc.), cold accumulators, and cryogenic liquefaction units (mostly adopting the Claude cycle). It converts electrical energy into cold energy stored in liquid air.
Storage Tank System
Large vacuum-insulated cryogenic storage tanks for liquid air, maintaining cryogenic temperature and minimizing boil-off losses.
Discharging (Power Generation) System
Includes cryogenic pumps, heat exchangers (recovering stored cold energy and external heat sources), expanders, and generators. It vaporizes and expands liquid air to produce mechanical work and generate electricity.
Thermal Management & Cold Energy Recovery System
Stores compression heat for use during discharge, while recovering liquefaction cold energy to improve liquefaction efficiency or supply cooling externally, enabling combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP).
Control & Grid-Connection System
Comprises power conversion systems (PCS), grid interfaces, and intelligent control systems to optimize charge-discharge strategies and enable grid interaction.
Core Advantages of LAES
Large capacity & long duration
Single projects can reach 10 to 600 MWH, with typical storage durations of 4–20 hours, suitable for grid-scale long-duration energy storage.
High safety
Uses air as the working medium with no risk of combustion or explosion. Materials are environmentally friendly, allowing relatively flexible site selection.
Long service life & low maintenance costs
Core components are conventional air separation and turbomachinery with mature technology. System lifespan can reach 25–30 years with relatively simple maintenance.
Multi-energy supply & improved efficiency
Through coordinated cooling, heating, and power supply, overall AC-AC efficiency reaches 50%–70%. Efficiency can be further enhanced by integrating industrial waste heat, LNG cold energy, etc.
Low geographical constraints
Unlike pumped hydro storage, LAES does not require specific terrain. Main equipment can be factory-prefabricated, enabling flexible deployment.
Resource recycling
Some designs can integrate captured CO₂, nitrogen, etc., forming a closed loop for resource utilization.
Application Scenarios of LAES Technology
Grid-Scale Energy Storage
Used for grid peak shaving, frequency regulation, and reserve capacity. It smooths the intermittency of wind and solar power, improving grid stability and renewable energy accommodation.
Integrated Energy Management in Industrial Parks
Provides energy storage for industrial parks while utilizing cold and heat from the liquefaction/vaporization process for district cooling, heating, or industrial processes, realizing multi-energy co-supply.
Remote Areas & Microgrids
In regions rich in wind and solar resources but with weak grids, LAES enables stable long-duration power supply and reduces reliance on diesel generation.
Synergy with LNG Terminals
Uses cold energy released during LNG vaporization to reduce energy consumption for air liquefaction, achieving cascade energy utilization and improving overall economic viability.
Ancillary Services in Electricity Markets
Participates in electricity market services such as frequency regulation and black start to earn capacity payments or service revenues
