Invinity Energy Systems has completed construction of its 20.7 MWh Copwood VFB Energy Hub in East Sussex, a project set to become Europe’s largest vanadium flow battery (VFB) installation when it enters service later this year.
The project combines 90 vanadium flow batteries with a 3 MW solar array designed to store surplus daytime solar generation and discharge electricity back to the grid during periods of peak demand, including evenings and overnight. The system is intended to increase the use of domestically generated renewable power while reducing reliance on higher-cost fossil fuel generation, particularly imported natural gas.
The Copwood project represents one of the UK’s largest long-duration energy storage (LDES) demonstrations and comes as Britain accelerates investment in technologies aimed at improving grid flexibility, energy security and renewable integration.
Unlike conventional battery technologies designed primarily for short-duration applications, vanadium flow batteries are intended for long-duration “energy shifting”, storing electricity for extended periods before releasing it when required. Invinity said the Copwood system has a storage capacity roughly equivalent to the daily electricity needs of around 3,000 homes.
The company also highlighted the technology’s safety profile, noting that its vanadium flow batteries use a water-based electrolyte and are designed for long operating life with heavy-duty cycling over decades. The lower fire-risk profile compared with conventional lithium-ion systems has become an increasingly important consideration in local planning discussions surrounding battery energy storage developments.
The completion of the project comes ahead of key decisions expected under Ofgem’s Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) Cap and Floor support scheme, which is intended to unlock investment in large-scale energy storage infrastructure across the UK.
Invinity said its vanadium flow battery technology has been selected for multiple project bids under the scheme, with wider deployment potentially supporting substantial industrial growth and the creation of up to 1,000 jobs as the company expands manufacturing capacity in Britain.
The London Stock Exchange-listed company operates facilities in Motherwell and Bathgate in Scotland’s Central Belt, where it assembles vanadium flow batteries for UK and European customers, alongside research, development and customer support operations.
