Overview | History | Benefits | Equipment | Underground Storage | Environment | Additional Information
The volume of air storage required for a typical CAES plant is most economically provided by geological structures. Impermeable underground caverns have proven to be both technically and economically feasible for storing gases and liquids for over 40 years.
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Salt Caverns These caverns are created by drilling a conventional well to pump fresh water into a salt dome or bedded salt formation. The salt dissolves until the water is saturated, and the resulting salt water is returned to the surface. This process continues until a cavern of the desired volume and shape is created. |
Other Storage Types
Large-scale storage of compressed air is also possible in other geologic
formations, such as hard rock mines or aquifers. While Ridge is focusing
its initial CAES development efforts in salt domes, the company is also
acquiring sites in geographic areas where alternative formations exist.
Use of other storage types will expand the geographic location of CAES plants throughout North America, to the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and the Middle East.