Review on key scientific and design issues of lined rock caverns for compressed air energy storage

Compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology is a new type of physical energy storage and a kind of large-scale energy storage technology for power generation with broad development prospects. Large-scale CAES usually requires high-capacity underground air storage devices. Among the existing types of underground compressed air storage reservoir, the underground cavern with liner and air sealed layer has become a research hotspot in recent years because of its advantages such as easy site selection and minimal site constraints. Under the background of the urgent need for large-scale CAES technology in China, this paper comprehensively summarized and commented on the theoretical research results and technical development status of man-made cavern for air storage, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the existing stability analysis theory of underground air storage cavern, sealing scheme of lined cavern and thermodynamic process analysis method. The key design points and critical issues that require attention in the development of the man-made underground lined caverns for air storage project are also discussed. Finally, the challenges affecting the industry development of compressed air energy storage with lined rock caverns were put forward.