StorTera, an Edinburgh based developer of intelligent energy storage solutions, has secured £5 million of funding from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) to develop a long-lasting megawatt scale battery that can operate for up to eight hours.
As the number of renewables projects continue to grow and Scotland generates more and more renewable energy, StorTera’s long duration energy storage will play a crucial role in supporting the country’s net zero ambitions and providing a more sustainable future.
StorTera’s unique single liquid flow battery (SLIQ) will offer flexibility to the grid by storing electricity which can then be released to the grid at peak times when weather dependent technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels have periods of decreased energy generation.
The battery will be installed at the Midlothian Innovation Centre (MIC) in 2024.
Dr. Gavin Park, CEO at StorTera, said: “This is a really significant piece of funding for StorTera and we are excited that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy shares our ambition and believes we can lead the way in developing sustainable long duration batteries.
“As Scotland produces more and more renewable energy it is clear that long duration energy storage will be crucial in supporting the flow of energy to the grid at peak times.
“If Scotland wants to meet its net-zero targets, it is vital that when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining that energy can be stored and released to the grid. As the team at StorTera grows we look forward to revolutionising energy storage in Scotland.”
StorTera’s battery at the MIC will be fully optimised operating at high efficiency during its 30-year lifespan while suffering minimal degradation due to its unique maintenance system.
StorTera’s funding was included in phase 2 of the BEIS’ Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration Programme (LODES) which defines this type of storage as any technology that can output stored energy at full capacity over a period longer than four hours.
Minister for Climate Graham Stuart said: “Accelerating renewables is key to boosting our energy resilience. Energy storage helps us get the full benefit of these renewables, improving efficiency and helping drive down costs in the long term.
“This £32.9 million government backing will enable green innovators across the UK to develop this technology, helping create new jobs and encouraging private investment, while also safeguarding the UK’s energy security.”
The funding will see StorTera, based at Castlebrae Business Centre in Edinburgh, double its number of employees to 28.
Earlier this year, during phase one of LODES, StorTera completed a detailed feasibility study on its single liquid flow battery (SLIQ) to provide long duration energy storage including how it can utilise a sustainable local supply chain that provides recycled raw materials from industry.
For phase two, StorTera expects to employ up to 14 new full-time staff including electrical, electronic, mechanical and chemical engineers. The battery installed at the MIC will help the centre to decarbonise and reduce energy costs.
A new facility featuring laboratory and test facilities will be established at a new location in Scotland to scale up the manufacturing and development of the SLIQ.
StorTera says it aims to build a circular economy around the SLIQ by utilising recycled and recyclable materials such as a by-product of the wood industry and reusing sulphur from oil and gas.
