The cost comparison between adiabatic compressed air energy storage (ACAES) and diabatic compressed air energy storage (DCAES) systems shows that ACAES generally has a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and storage cost. Specifically, the average costs are about $0.0749 per kWh for ACAES, while for DCAES, the cost is higher, around $0.1108 per kWh.
This difference arises because ACAES systems capture and store the heat generated during the air compression process and reuse it during expansion, reducing or eliminating the need for fuel combustion to reheat the air. This increases system efficiency (between 60% and 70%) and decreases greenhouse gas emissions, thereby improving overall economics. In contrast, DCAES systems release the compression heat to the surroundings and rely on fuel combustion to reheat the air during expansion, which increases operational costs and emissions.
Other sources report that CAES system costs generally range from approximately $0.15 to $0.60 per kWh depending on technology type and scale, though these are broad figures and may include various configurations and project scales.
In summary, while both systems involve significant infrastructure costs, adiabatic CAES systems tend to be more cost-effective on a per kWh basis because they improve efficiency and reduce fuel dependency compared to diabatic CAES systems. This makes ACAES an economically and environmentally preferable option where feasible.
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