A unique two-year pilot to gauge the effectiveness of a compressed air energy storage system has begun in Canada.
Toronto’s Hydrostor founders Curtis VanWalleghem and Cameron Lewis unveiled the underwater compressed air energy storage (CEAS) system on November 18.
The system, located three kilometres off Toronto Island, will be used to stabilise electricity utilities firm Toronto Hydro’s grid during peak times.
The ESS works by storing compressed air in a balloon-like structure 55 metres under Lake Ontario. When the energy is required, the weight of the water is used to push the air to the surface through a pipe where an expander converts the air back into electricity.
At peak output, the storage unit is capable of 660kW, and is able to run for more than a hour, depending on how much power is drawn, says the firm.
VanWalleghem said the firm is now focused on commercialising the technology globally.
Anthony Haines, President and CEO of Toronto Hydro, said: “We have been very busy exploring new ways to power our grid, and I think this is the most creative project we’ve been involved in so far.”
In 1978, the world’s first CEAS was built in Huntorf, Germany, capable of storing 290-MW of energy. CEAS systems are more commonly situated in underground caves.
