Enhancing liquid air energy storage efficiency through integration with LNG: comparative analysis of cold energy recovery methods

Abstract Liquid air energy storage (LAES) technology is characterized by its high energy storage density, geographical independence, and ease of integration with other systems. The LAES integrates and offsets the intermittency and volatility of renewable energy sources. However, air compression and liquefaction processes significantly impact the round-trip efficiency of the entire LAES system. This study proposes the integration of an external cold source with the LAES system to recover cold energy and enhance the system’s energy efficiency. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) serves as an effective external cold source when coupled with LAES. The coupling of LNG and the LAES is achieved by providing cold energy to the system in two ways: reducing the system’s compression work and supplementing cold energy to assist in liquefaction. This paper compares and analyzes these two methods to enhance system performance, serving as a reference for research on the integrated system of LNG and LAES.