Will augwind's 'airbattery' energy storage system work in Germany?

The facility will be the first operational installation at scale of Augwind’s ‘AirBattery’ hydraulic compressed air energy storage (CAES) system designed specifically for grid-scale energy storage for up to months at a time. Germany has over 400 caverns suitable for AirBattery, and geological potential for storing 330 TWh in total.

How efficient are Germany's pumped-storage power plants?

Efficiency is between 75 and 85%. Today, Germany has pumped- storage power plants producing a total of about 7,000 MW. The expansion potential is severely limited, especially in northern Germany where the balancing need is greatest.

What is airbattery hydraulic compressed air energy storage (CAES)?

The facility will be the world’s first industrial-scale operational installation of Augwind’s AirBattery Hydraulic Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) technology designed specifically for grid-scale storage for up to months at a time – a game-changer for the global energy transition.

Will a 'air battery' be built in Germany?

Israeli company Augwind Energy is planning to build the world’s first commercial-scale ‘air battery’ in Germany, using underground salt caverns to store compressed air for electricity generation. Commissioning is scheduled for 2027–2028.

What is an air battery storage system?

An air battery storage system that uses large scale CAES but recovers its energy via a different system has been running in Huntorf, Germany, since it was commissioned in 1978. Huntorf was the first commercial scale CAES plant in the world, at a rating of 320MW. During off-peak load periods, air is compressed and stored in underground salt caverns.

Why does Germany need airbattery?

Security of supply: By storing energy for weeks, AirBattery provides backup power during extended periods of low renewable generation (Dunkelflaute), which will become more frequent as Germany phases out coal and nuclear while accelerating its transition to renewables.