Compressed Air Energy Systems

Nebraska Public Power District continues to close in on compressed-air systems as a viable form of generating electricity. 

They've developed an innovative energy project which stores compressed air in one of the panhandle’s geologic formations 3,000 feet below ground, then uses the same pressurized air to turn a turbine and produce power. There are, maybe, two systems like it in the world. 

The salt dome geoformation outside of Big Springs , Nebraska was a natural gas reserve the oil and gas industry tapped in the 1950s & ‘60s. The same site was used for natural gas storage in the 1990s which means the rock formation is both sealed and breathable. In other words the rock lets the gas both in and out which indicates site provides sufficient pressure, support of the air injection process and produces good air with drawl rates. 

In October, NPPD’s board of directors approved utility staff to begin negotiating a lease agreement with the land owner and development of an Air Injection Test plan. Pushing some rough preliminary numbers the production of electricity from a compressed air system would cost NPPD $1,200 to $1,300 per kilowatt. 

It’s an exciting project. One I'll be glad to watch develop. To learn more, check out this powerpoint presentation.