Innovators working on technologies capable of storing renewable energy over extended periods are now eligible to apply for a £28 million funding pot. Funding will be made available through the programme to back technologies including next-generation battery systems and subsurface hydrogen storage.
Wind and solar power carry minimal ongoing operational expenses, though their output fluctuates according to prevailing atmospheric conditions. Renewable sources like wind and solar deliver plentiful power under favourable conditions, yet output drops when weather patterns shift. Because renewable output fluctuates, dispatchable sources such as gas and nuclear plants are required to provide reliable baseload capacity.
This arrangement can result in wind energy operators receiving payments to halt electricity production during high-wind periods, as the existing transmission network lacks the capacity to handle the output. Energy storage systems are regarded as a potential answer to the challenge. Excess energy could be held in reserve and released into the network on demand.
Currently, battery capacity remains confined to several hours of use. Projects seeking to store electricity for 100 hours or longer — enough to supply homes and businesses for a minimum of four days — are the focus of a long-duration energy storage initiative.
Science minister Chris McDonald contended that addressing renewable energy storage would bolster energy security, lower household costs over time, and leave people in a stronger financial position. Energy minister Michael Shanks argued that domestically produced renewable power offers a pathway to lower household bills and greater energy independence, with storage capacity playing a key role in meeting demand at peak times.
A £28 million funding allocation will support advanced battery technology and hydrogen storage systems, aiming to increase renewable energy capacity, decrease dependence on gas-fired generation, and strengthen overall energy resilience. Two principal workstreams will guide the initiative: advancing battery technologies capable of sustaining power output beyond 100 hours — a threshold not yet achieved at commercial scale — alongside designing and trialling underground hydrogen storage systems that can discharge energy on demand.
New policies are being introduced on an ongoing basis to phase out nearly all fossil fuel generation from the electricity network by 2030. Ministers argue that reducing reliance on fossil gas, while buffering households from volatile global energy prices, would bolster supply resilience, advance environmental targets, and lower the cost of living.
Jenny Hill, head of the clean energy challenge at UK Research and Innovation, described the development of efficient and effective energy storage technologies as a necessary component of any transition towards a cleaner and more resilient energy supply. Proponents suggest the initiative could position the UK as a leading player in the international energy storage sector, with potential benefits including employment growth and increased private funding.
UK Research and Innovation has opened a competitive funding round, allocating up to £3 million towards research into electrochemical ultra-long duration energy storage technologies as part of the broader initiative. The aim is to bring advanced battery technologies capable of delivering affordable electricity to the grid for 100 hours or longer into commercial production.
