In CAES, energy is stored in the form of compressed air in a reservoir during off-peak periods, while it is used on demand during peak periods to generate power with a turbo-generator system. Such plants can offer significant benefits in terms of flexibility in matching a fluctuating power demand, particularly when coupled with renewable sources, characterized by high and often unpredictable variability.
A mathematical model, validated in a previous study over the CAES plant in Alabama, US, is coupled with a dynamic programming algorithm to achieve the optimal management of the plant, in order to minimize operational costs while satisfying constraints related to the operation of reservoir, compressors and turbines, also considering their off-design performance. The potential benefits of such plant in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emission are analyzed and discussed, for different configurations and scenarios.