Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Improving the Technical, Environmental, and Social Performance of Wind Energy Systems Using Biomass-Based Energy Storage

Journal Article · · Renewable Energy

A completely renewable baseload electricity generation system is proposed by combining wind energy, compressed air energy storage, and biomass gasification. This system can eliminate problems associated with wind intermittency and provide a source of electrical energy functionally equivalent to a large fossil or nuclear power plant. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) can be economically deployed in the Midwestern US, an area with significant low-cost wind resources. CAES systems require a combustible fuel, typically natural gas, which results in fuel price risk and greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing natural gas with synfuel derived from biomass gasification eliminates the use of fossil fuels, virtually eliminating net CO{sub 2} emissions from the system. In addition, by deriving energy completely from farm sources, this type of system may reduce some opposition to long distance transmission lines in rural areas, which may be an obstacle to large-scale wind deployment.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Wind Power Program
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1035716
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-620-38270
Journal Information:
Renewable Energy, Journal Name: Renewable Energy Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 31; ISSN RNENE3; ISSN 0960-1481
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English