Alfa Laval Partners with Institute for Advanced Engineering to Deliver Cryogenic Technology for South Korea’s First Large Scale LAES Facility

Alfa Laval Partners with Institute for Advanced Engineering to Deliver Cryogenic Technology for South Korea’s First Large Scale LAES Facility

(IN BRIEF) Alfa Laval has partnered with the Institute for Advanced Engineering to provide cryogenic equipment for South Korea’s first large-scale liquid air energy storage facility. The project will use brazed aluminium plate heat exchangers and a ten-stage high-pressure cryogenic pump to produce up to ten tons of liquid air per day. Liquid air energy storage enables long-duration energy storage by liquefying air at cryogenic temperatures and later expanding it to generate electricity during peak demand. The initiative supports South Korea’s renewable energy integration, enhances grid stability and contributes to the country’s low-carbon transition. The partnership strengthens Alfa Laval’s position in the growing LAES technology market.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUND, 3-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Alfa Laval has entered into a strategic partnership with the Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE) to supply advanced cryogenic technology for South Korea’s first large-scale liquid air energy storage (LAES) facility. The collaboration is intended to enhance grid stability and support the country’s accelerating transition toward renewable energy and a low-carbon power system.

Under the agreement, Alfa Laval will deliver key cryogenic components designed to operate reliably under extreme temperatures and high-pressure conditions. The system will incorporate brazed aluminium plate heat exchangers and a ten-stage vertical high-pressure cryogenic pump. Together, these technologies will enable the production of up to ten tons of liquid air per day, forming the core of the energy storage and release process.

Liquid air energy storage works by cooling ambient air to cryogenic temperatures until it liquefies. The liquid air is then stored in insulated tanks. When electricity demand rises, the stored liquid air is warmed and expanded, driving turbines that generate power. This approach provides a scalable, long-duration energy storage solution capable of balancing fluctuations in renewable generation and improving grid reliability.

The project represents an important milestone for South Korea as it seeks to strengthen its renewable energy infrastructure and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By enabling energy to be stored during periods of low demand and released during peak consumption, the LAES facility will contribute to a more flexible and resilient power grid.

Alasdair Maciver, Head of Energy Storage Solutions at Alfa Laval, stated that the partnership underscores the role of innovation and collaboration in advancing sustainable energy systems. He noted that Alfa Laval’s cryogenic technologies are engineered to optimize efficiency and reliability, supporting the deployment of long-duration energy storage solutions.

Dr. Sungho Park, Director of Energy Systems at IAE, described the initiative as a pioneering project that establishes a new standard for energy efficiency and sustainability in South Korea. The collaboration is intended to position the country at the forefront of advanced energy storage technologies.

About liquid air energy storage (LAES)

Liquid air energy storage works by cooling air to cryogenic temperatures, turning it into a liquid that can be stored in insulated tanks. When energy is needed, the liquid air is warmed and expanded to drive turbines, generating electricity. The process offers a scalable, long-duration storage solution that helps balance supply and demand, reduce renewable curtailment, and strengthen grid resilience.

Energy storage plays a vital role in enabling the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, strengthening grid resilience, and supporting the transition away from fossil fuels, thereby advancing a more reliable, sustainable, and low-carbon energy system.

For further information, please contact:

David Averous
Director of Sales and Innovation
Business Unit Cryogenic Technologies, Alfa Laval
Mobile: +33 68 2784 297
E-mail:  david.averous@alfalaval.com

Dr. Sungho Park
Director of Energy Systems at the Institute for Advanced Engineering
Mobile : +82 01 05 44 71 575
E-mail: sh.park@iae.re.kr

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