This Startup Wants To Build An Air-based Battery And Sink It In The Sea

BaroMar, an Israeli startup, is revolutionizing long-term energy storage with its innovative use of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) technology. This method uses compressed air to overcome the limits of lithium-ion batteries, especially in large-scale applications.

The idea behind CAES is simple: big air compressors are run by surplus power produced by renewable energy sources, including solar or wind. These compressors produce high-pressure air that fills solid tanks and stores it for use at later times when energy demand is high.

BaroMar’s deployment strategy is what makes it innovative. The company intends to tie its tanks to the sea floor and place them underwater instead of conventional above-ground storage tanks. This method simplifies deployment logistics and uses less expensive materials, which results in significant cost savings.

Cages packed with rocks will anchor the steel and concrete underwater tanks to the sea floor. Water-permeable valves in these tanks, which can endure depths of up to 2,300 feet (700 m), make storing easier. Seawater is displaced while compressed air is injected into the tanks, enabling the tanks to hold high-pressure air effectively.

BaroMar uses a turbo expander and heat recovery system to draw energy from the stored air, which powers a generator to provide electricity. For grid-level energy storage, BaroMar’s CAES technology presents a promising solution with an estimated round-trip efficiency of 70%.

Additionally, the company positions itself as an affordable substitute for current technologies with its competitive $100 per MWh Levelized Cost of Storage (LCoS). These cost estimates account for the submerged tanks’ low maintenance needs, guaranteeing their long-term affordability and feasibility.

Despite the associated technical and logistical hurdles, BaroMar is dedicated to achieving this ambitious objective, as seen by its collaboration with design company Jacobs. As the project moves forward, BaroMar hopes to become a pioneer in compressed air energy storage by overcoming technical challenges and regulatory obstacles.