From Guest Blogger Paula: Liquid Air Energy Storage System

Today liquefaction of air offers us a great solution to one of the biggest issues that world energy science faces – electricity storage. According to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers this type of energy storage is just as effective as the traditional batteries and the hydrogen. It can be used to store excess energy, generated from renewable sources like wind turbines. This energy can be frozen to cryogenic air in some isolated place. When it is necessary, this air can be warmed up and it will return to its previous state, in order to be used.

According to the engineering specialists, the process of producing electricity at the “right time” can reach up to 70% efficiency. This innovative technology was developed by Peter Diarmen, the discoverer of Hertfordshire. His initial idea was to create an effective energy storage system, that can be used to drive a car. Highview Power Storage is the company set up to use his technology. According to Tim Fox, who is the main energy expert of this company, this is a discovery which will definitely offer potential solution to the problem of the increasing need of renewable energy. The whole process develops in 4 main phases:

Electricity from the ‘wrong part of the day’ is used to collect air. The carbon dioxide and the water vapor are removed from the air.
The remaining air, most of which is nitrogen, is cooled to -190 ° C and turned into liquid which, in fact is the essence of the whole process.
Liquid air is stored in a giant vacuum vessel.
When the energy demand increases, the liquid is warmed to ambient temperature. During this process, this air drives a turbine which produces electricity.

In recent years energy storage becomes more and more important. Along with this, increases the need of using renewable energy sources. In the short term, natural gas power plants as well as other technologies for rapid response, like batteries, try to keep this network stable. But if renewables manage to gain enough popularity – which we all hope – or if we want to reduce the use of fossil fuels in power plants, then we will need technologies that are capable of storing energy for hours or even for days.

At this point the process is only 25% efficient, but it will be significantly improved by placing the generator near to an industrial factory or a power plant that produces heat and release it in the atmosphere. This heat can be used in the process of thermal conversion of the liquefied air.

This creative discovery may be the first step to the big change that our planet expects for so long. Although it is only an project, liquid air storage energy can become one of the greatest discoveries in the history of energetics. At last, we are given the opportunity to appreciate the great amount of resources that Earth gives us. And it is up to us whether we will manage to succeed, or we will fail once again.

Author Bio: Paula is keen on Efficiency and Eco related topics. She runs http://www.perfectcleaning.org.uk/end-of-tenancy-cleaning-peckham-se15/