Long-term energy storage is vital for higher penetration of wind and solar that will clean the grid. Luckily, we have a variety of technologies at our fingertips that just need to be deployed for large-scale testing. Over the next decade, the global market potential for long-duration grid storage is expected to grow as much as 140+ gigawatts (GW). 

Hydrostar uses patented Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage technology to store energy using air and water in an engineered cavern. They aim to be the world’s leading developer of utility-scale energy storage facilities. Advantages include low cost per KWh, long asset life, and flexible siting. 

The A-CAES provides long-duration energy storage (4-24 hr duration) like pumped hydro while having zero emissions by using surplus wind or solar electricity as fuel. Their solution is more flexible to a site than pumped hydro and more cost-effective than batteries at a large scale with a life span of 50+ years. 

Curt VanWalleghem is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and an MBA. Prior to Hydrostor, Curt held positions at nuclear generator Bruce Power and in Deloitte’s Corporate Strategy Consulting Practice. 

On this episode of the Clean Power Hour, he joins Tim Montague to discuss their patented A-CAES technology, the 500 MW Willow Rock project, the future of long-term energy storage, and much more. 

The Willow Rock Energy Storage Center is a utility-scale A-CAES facility that is under active development in Kern County, California, USA. The proposed facility will provide up to 500 megawatts (MW) of new electrical capacity, allowing California’s attractive and growing solar and wind resources to be directly converted into a reliable, on-demand peaking capacity for the Los Angeles region and the broader California grid. This project will store excess generation from California solar and wind projects during periods of low customer demand by compressing air and storing it on the project site. 

Listen in to learn more about long-term energy storage and this unique technology developed by Hydrostor. 

Key Takeaways

1. How did Curt get involved with Long term Storage for Renewable Energy?
2. The background behind the founding of Hydrostor
3. How does the Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage Technology Work?

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