China has officially connected the world’s largest liquid air energy storage (LAES) facility to the electricity grid in Golmud, Qinghai Province, marking a major development in long-duration energy storage technology. The 60 MW project is located in the Qaidam Basin, adjacent to a large solar power facility, and is designed to improve renewable energy integration and grid stability.
The facility aims to address the challenge of balancing electricity supply and demand as solar and wind generation fluctuate throughout the day. It uses surplus electricity generated during periods of high renewable energy production to store energy for later use when demand increases.
The storage process begins with ordinary air, which is purified and compressed using a multi-stage centrifugal compressor. During compression, the system captures and stores the generated heat in insulated tanks. The compressed air is then cooled to approximately minus 194 degrees Celsius, converting it into liquid form. This liquid air is stored in large tanks under near-atmospheric pressure until electricity is required.
When power demand rises, the stored liquid air is pumped and heated before being converted back into gas. The expanding gas drives turbines, generating electricity that can be supplied to the grid. This process allows the facility to store surplus renewable energy and release it during periods of higher electricity consumption.
The project can absorb approximately 600 MWh of surplus electricity per day and is expected to deliver around 180 GWh of electricity annually. Its capacity could support the electricity requirements of tens of thousands of households while helping reduce the challenges associated with intermittent renewable energy generation.
Unlike conventional battery storage systems that depend on minerals such as lithium, liquid air energy storage uses ordinary atmospheric air as its primary storage medium. It also does not require specific underground geological formations, making the technology more flexible in terms of project locations and deployment.
Another important feature of the facility is its 100% domestic equipment localization rate. The project uses locally developed intellectual property, equipment and manufacturing supply chains, highlighting China’s efforts to strengthen its domestic energy storage industry.
The commissioning of the Golmud facility represents an important milestone for large-scale energy storage. Its operational performance is expected to provide valuable experience for future projects and demonstrate how long-duration storage technologies can support renewable energy expansion, improve grid flexibility and strengthen electricity supply reliability.
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