Alfa Laval to supply cryogenic tech for South Korea’s first liquid air energy storage plant

A new liquid air energy storage (LAES) project in South Korea will deploy cryogenic equipment supplied by Alfa Laval under a partnership with the Institute for Advanced Engineering.
The collaboration will support development of what the partners describe as the country’s first large-scale LAES facility, aimed at improving grid stability and enabling greater integration of renewable energy.
Under the project, Alfa Laval will provide cryogenic systems including brazed aluminium plate heat exchangers and a ten-stage vertical high-pressure cryogenic pump designed to operate under extreme temperature and pressure conditions.
The system is expected to produce up to 10 tonnes of liquid air per day, which can be stored and later converted back into electricity during periods of peak demand.
“This partnership demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can drive meaningful progress toward a more sustainable energy system and will strengthen Alfa Laval’s position as a key supplier of LAES technology in South Korea,” said Alasdair Maciver, Head of Energy Storage Solutions at Alfa Laval.
“Our cryogenic technologies are engineered to maximize efficiency and reliability, helping our partners unlock the full potential of renewable energy.”
Dr Sungho Park, Director of Energy Systems at the Institute for Advanced Engineering, said the project would help set a new benchmark for energy efficiency and sustainability in the country.
Liquid air energy storage works by cooling atmospheric air to cryogenic temperatures until it becomes liquid. The liquid air is stored in insulated tanks and later reheated and expanded to drive turbines, generating electricity.
The technology is gaining attention as a long-duration energy storage solution capable of balancing intermittent renewable generation while strengthening grid resilience.
Energy storage is widely seen as a key enabler of higher renewable penetration, helping manage fluctuations in supply and demand while supporting the transition away from fossil fuels.