Modular Undersea Compressed Air Energy Storage (UCAES) System

Among the challenges facing renewable energy producers and distributors is that of energy storage. Sources of renewable energy including solar, wind, wave, and tidal are primarily tied to naturally occurring cyclic phenomena that are out of phase with electric load demand cycles. In order for these renewables to be practical sources of electricity in the future, storage solutions must be developed that are deployable, scalable, economical, and allow for reliable and efficient energy conversion and storage at times when production and demand cycles are not in phase. Traditional compressed air energy storage (CAES) strategies have focused on the use of fabricated vessels or geologic formations to provide the necessary storage volumes. The proposed undersea CAES (UCAES) strategy will develop an economical undersea storage module utilizing low-cost materials coupled with the hydraulic pressure of the water to control the pressure. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Cost-effective, modular energy-storage solutions will: 1) enable renewable energy sources including solar, wind, wave, and tidal to store energy as it is available for capture and provide energy for distribution when demand requires, 2) reduce pollution by eliminating the need for high-polluting engines dispatched during peak periods of power consumption, 3) reduce CO2 generation by enabling renewable energy sources, and 4) enhance energy security by reducing US oil imports