Wind in a Bottle

This article highlights that like everything else wind power is biggest in Texas. But plans to erect thousands of large turbines have utilities scrambling to build a new energy infrastructure. To take advantage of its wind potential, address the state’s fuel diversity problem, and demonstrate sensitivity to regional environmental issues, the 1999 Texas legislature established a “renewable portfolio standard.” This standard sets a goal of 2000 MW of new renewable electricity generation by 2009. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) uses off-peak electricity from the grid to compress air that is stored at high pressures in natural underground repositories. When needed, the compressed air is raised to the surface, expanded in two phases, and then mixed with natural gas. The combination is ignited, turning a gas turbine and producing electricity. Naturally arched salt domes of the type used in the Huntorf and McIntosh plants are not common in West Texas, so the Shell-Luminant CAES plant will use salt beds instead.