Posters

Abstract

Self-sustaining microgrids face a key challenge: the temporal mismatch between energy generation and consumption. Batteries offer short-term storage but have limited capacity, lifespan, efficiency, and fire risk. Reliable supply requires stable, sustainable storage technologies capable of providing energy over multi-day periods without primary energy availability. This paper proposes an innovative concept of wind power plant with liquid air storage in the wind turbine towers. The basic idea of the proposed technical solution is to convert the excess wind power captured by the wind turbine into liquid air using compressor-cryogenic systems, which is stored in reservoirs located in the wind turbine towers. In the inverse process of electricity generation, liquid air is heated, converted into hot gas, and fed into an expansion turbine, giving mechanical energy. The turbine drives a generator with power comparable to that of a wind generator. Significant thermal energy is released during the compression and cryogenic cooling of air to its liquid state. To capture this, concept proposes a thermal storage system to store the heat generated in the cryogenic compression process. A cold storage unit is also proposed to absorb the low-temperature air exiting the turbine. This stored cold is used to pre-cool the air entering the compressor; on the other hand, the heat from the thermal storage is used to warm the liquid air before it enters the turbine, thereby significantly improving system efficiency. The proposed concept represents a fundamental shift from viewing a wind turbine merely as an electricity producer to a complete, self-sustaining power plant capable of providing reliable electrical and thermal energy to local microgrids over extended periods without wind. This paper will present technological scheme and system sizing of a wind turbine integrated with liquid air storage. The concept will be demonstrated using a microgrid in Serbian windy region.