Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) as a long-duration storage option for Europe
E. Vaccariello, et al., encoord Whitepaper, 2023.
Overview: The European Union aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030, requiring rapid renewable energy expansion—potentially meeting 40% of electricity demand through solar and wind, with even higher penetration in Germany and Spain. Achieving this will require integrating flexible resources like long-duration energy storage (LDES), which can provide renewables firming, congestion relief, and other grid services. Sumitomo SHI FW’s Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) system is a proven, high-density, thermo-mechanical solution that stores energy as liquid air, enabling grid-scale storage for 1–2 weeks and offering multiple revenue streams, including balancing services, inertia support, and carbon-free reserves, while enhancing grid efficiency and resilience.
