The wide-spread application of thermal energy and high-pressure air storage to electric power generation has so far been hampered by the lack of large high-pressure storage vessels of reasonable cost. Welded steel vessels are too expensive for this purpose. However, the Prestressed Cast Iron Vessel (PCIV), developed as a nuclear reactor pressure vessel by Siempelkamp Giesserei KG of Krefeld, FRG, has the potential of complying with these requirements. Applications of the PCIV include: high-pressure air storage for the quick start-up of open cycle gas turbines; pressurized high-temperature sensible heat storage by means of solids with a gaseous heat transfer medium for closed cycle gas turbines of future solar power stations; and pressurized hot water storage for nuclear, solar, or coal-fired steam power plants, employing either separate peaking turbines or overloadable main turbine sets. A reference PCIV of 8000 m/sup 3/, 275/sup 0/C, with hot going walls and cold going tendons was developed, designed, and stress-analysed. A parametric study showed that pressures between 4 and 8 MPa and L/D ratios larger than 4 should be optimal. Cost of the reference vessel is about $10,000,000 or 33 to 50 $/kWh electric energy stored. Cost of peak power will be from 30 tomore » 100 mills/kWh, depending on many parameters.« less