Ocean Energy On-Demand Using Underocean Compressed Air Storage

Renewable ocean energy sources are typically highly variable and uncontrolled, resulting in the production of low value electricity. Storing energy in the form of compressed air is a mature technology on land. Utilizing hydrostatic pressure at depth in the ocean to maintain constant pressure in the air supply chamber offers large recovery efficiency advantages. If salt dome caverns are not available, the design challenge is the development of a low cost bottom-founded air storage chamber.© 2007 ASME