Small-scale compressed-air energy storage (CAES)

Stores surplus electricity by compressing air into a pressure vessel and recovers it later through an expander/air motor driving a generator. A non-electrochemical alternative to battery storage: longer service life, simpler and more repairable components, no lithium/rare-earth content. The open challenge at household scale is round-trip efficiency versus tank size (the source argues small high-efficiency designs are achievable but this is not yet a common, proven household product). Treat as low-maturity/experimental.

Cost
Medium
Upkeep
Seasonal
Skill to build
Intermediate
Lifespan
Pressure vessel 20+ years; compressor/expander are serviceable moving parts on a shorter cycle. Longer expected life than electrochemical batteries per the source.
Embodied carbon
Medium
Space / material use
High
Output timing
On-demand/controllable
Skill to repair
Intermediate

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

What your site needs

Space for a pressure vessel/tank; pairs with a generation source such as a PV array.

Inputs

Outputs

Sources

Tutorials

What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.