Patent ID: 7471010

Claim:
A wind turbine tower assembly for storing compressed gas, comprising: a wind turbine assembly comprising a rotor, a generator linked to the rotor, and a nacelle housing the generator; a structural foundation; and a tubular tower having a first end mounted to the foundation and a second end supporting the nacelle; and an in-tower storage provided within the tower configured for storing a pressurized gas and defined in part by inner surfaces of the tower; wherein the in-tower storage comprises an upper end cap proximal to the second end of the tower and sealed about its circumference to an inner surface of the tower wall; wherein the in-tower storage further comprises a lower end cap proximal to the first end of the tower and sealed about its circumference to an inner surface of the tower wall; and wherein the in-tower storage further comprises a liner forming a substantially gas impermeable barrier between the tower wall and the end caps and a gas stored in the in-tower storage.