The round-trip efficiency (RTE) of Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) generally ranges between 50% and 60%, though some recent studies have reported values up to around 77% with optimized configurations and hybrid modeling approaches. This efficiency is somewhat lower compared to other common large-scale energy storage technologies.
Comparison with Other Storage Systems:
| Energy Storage System | Typical Round-Trip Efficiency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LAES | 50% – 60% (up to ~77% in some studies) | Efficiency can be improved with thermal integration and system optimization |
| Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) | 55% – 65% | Slightly higher than LAES; LAES can outperform CAES by about 15% in some cases |
| Lithium-ion Batteries | ~85% – 95% | Significantly higher RTE; considered more efficient environmentally partly due to this |
| Pumped Hydropower Storage (PHS) | ~70% – 85% | Commonly recognized as having higher efficiency than LAES |
Key Insights:
- LAES generally has lower round-trip efficiency compared to lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydropower storage, which typically exhibit efficiencies above 70% and often closer to 90% for batteries.
- LAES tends to outperform traditional CAES by roughly 15% in round-trip efficiency, which typically lies between 55% and 65%.
- The relatively low round-trip efficiency of LAES is a major limitation compared to other systems. Improvements often require integrating external thermal systems or fuel inputs, which can complicate installation independence and cause environmental concerns due to associated CO2 emissions.
- Some innovative standalone LAES designs aim to improve energy efficiency and economic performance without relying heavily on external heat or fuels, but overcoming the efficiency gap remains challenging.
- From an environmental perspective, the lower round-trip efficiency and use of materials like diathermic oil also affect LAES’s comparative sustainability relative to lithium-ion batteries.
In summary, LAES offers advantages like high energy density and geographic independence but has lower round-trip efficiency than lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydropower storage, though it can be comparable or slightly better than CAES. Ongoing research seeks to enhance LAES efficiency through system design and hybridization, but existing technologies still lag behind the most efficient energy storage options currently available.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-round-trip-efficiency-of-laes-compare-to-other-energy-storage-systems/
