Salt cavern compressed air storage starts up two 350 MW units in China

The Jintan salt cavern compressed air energy storage project in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, completed the full startup of two units. The startup was completed on September 12. The project is described as the world's largest salt cavern compressed air energy storage project.

Each unit has 350 MW of capacity. The second phase is constructed and operated by Huaneng Jiangsu Branch, with a total installed capacity of 700 MW. It has a designed energy storage duration of 8 hours.

The startup uses a naturally formed salt cavern one kilometer underground. It reuses the salt cavern cavity built for Phase I as test facilities to verify the coordinated performance of compressors, expanders, heat storage and heat exchange systems, as well as control systems. During the startup, key parameters including unit vibration, temperature and pressure outperformed design values.

The project also features Asia's largest single-set thermal storage water tank matrix in the compressed-air storage sector, according to CCTV News. The system includes 16 spherical water tanks, with a combined volume of 56,000 cubic meters.

The next steps are pre-grid-connection tests and system integration tests. After completion, the project will store surplus renewable power during off-peak hours and deliver stable power output at peak demand periods.