# Storing Clean Energy with Air & Water: Hydrostor’s Game-Changing Tech

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2025-02-27
- Length: 44m
- Episode: 73
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/xnymjw2n-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-curtis-vanwalleghem

## Summary

Curtis VanWalleghem, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrostor, explains how his company uses compressed air energy storage in underground caverns to provide long-duration grid stability. He details the engineering of the system, including thermal management and the 'champagne effect,' and contrasts Hydrostor's economics and 100-year lifespan with lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro. VanWalleghem discusses the company's pivot from marine balloons to mining caverns, its commercial projects in Australia and California, and the critical need for market redesign to value long-duration storage.

## Chapters

- [0:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech#t=43) Introduction and Hydrostor Background
- [2:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech#t=138) The Origin Story and Technology Overview
- [5:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech#t=355) Engineering the Underground Cavern and Thermal Balance
- [14:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech#t=860) Siting Flexibility and Water Usage Advantages
- [19:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech#t=1196) Technical Challenges: Thermal Balance and the Champagne Effect
- [24:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech#t=1478) Commercial Projects, Economics, and Market Position
- [34:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-02-27-storing-clean-energy-with-air-water-hydrostors-game-changing-tech#t=2062) Market Outlook and Policy Needs

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Hydrostor (company)
- Bruce Power (company)
- Deloitte (company)
- Octopus Energy (company)
- Energy Dome (company)
- Form Energy (company)
- EcoGen (company)
- Lithium-ion (product)
- Pumped Hydro (product)
- Synchronous Condenser (product)
- Shell and tube heat exchanger (tool)
- Centrifugal compressors (tool)
- Steam turbine (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How to Save a Planet: Spark Tank! How Do We Solve the Energy Storage Problem?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-01-how-to-save-a-planet-spark-tank-how-do-we-solve-the-energy-storage-problem) (Catalyst)
- [Four ways to store sunlight](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-05-25-four-ways-to-store-sunlight) (Catalyst)
- [Hydrogen, meet salt cavern](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-04-28-hydrogen-meet-salt-cavern) (Catalyst)
- [Unlocking the renewable energy revolution with Ramya Swaminathan of Malta Inc.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-10-12-unlocking-the-renewable-energy-revolution-with-ramya-swaminathan-of-malta-inc) (How I Built This)
- [What do you do with a 100-hour battery?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-12-14-what-do-you-do-with-a-100-hour-battery) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

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