The French have developed a “homemade” system for storing energy in compressed air

While the Chinese are crawling underground in search of places to store energy in compressed air, the French prefer to work on the surface in comfortable conditions. Thus, the company Segula Technologies presented compact air compression energy storage systems, placed in standard 12-meter containers filled with cylinders and compressors. Such installations can be placed anywhere to support environmentally friendly energy.

Image source: Segula Technologies

During peak production hours, the energy from solar and wind power plants will be used to pump air into cylinders. To generate electricity during peak consumption hours, the air will be returned to the atmosphere through generators, producing electricity. The efficiency of the installation is claimed to reach 70%, which is in line with competing solutions.

Remora energy storage systems were originally developed to pump air into cylinders underwater. This allowed the air to be compressed more with less energy. The new Remora Stack (for businesses) and Remora Home (for private use) are designed for use on the surface. The first two prototypes, with a capacity of 200 kW, will be built in Spain – in Eibar and Bilbao.

«The entire system has a lifespan of at least 30 years, does not emit pollutants and, unlike batteries, uses strong and durable materials,” the company said, adding that the development does not use lithium or rare earth elements.

The capacity and power of the Remora Stack system for businesses, residential eco-districts, shopping malls, power plants and public infrastructure facilities may vary depending on the customer’s requirements. The Remora Home system for residential applications will likely have standard parameters.

The project is partly funded by the EU Air4NRG programme and involves dozens of European companies from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and other countries. The pilot plant will be commissioned in 2026, with serial production of Remora Stack kits expected in 2027–2028.