Initial experience with the compressed-air energy storage (CAES) project of Nordwestdeutsche Kraftwerke AG (NWK) at Huntorf/West Germany

The following report deals with the measurements and tests carried out during the first year of operation of the air-storage caverns of the CAES-power plant in Huntorf. Using these the first results about the behaviour of the cavern were achieved. This meant that it was possible to compare the design calculations and laboratory tests for compressed air storage with actual results. The caverns are fully capable of bearing the stresses imposed by rapidly changing pressure and temperature. Cavern closure could not be determined. The temperature variation in the caverns during one cycle allows full-load operation of the power plant, and it coincides well with mathematical simulation. Preliminary salinity determinations of the air coming from the cavern show that it contains practically no salt, which is important in respect to blade corrosion problems. The suspended tubing strings are in an excellent condition after one year of operation.