Equilibrium Energy Storage

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£263,710

Nov. 1, 2020

July 31, 2021

The application relates to project funding for the next phase of the development of a commercially viable form of storing electricity both at intermediate scale, improving the utility of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and at grid distribution level. This innovative technology, called Equilibrium Energy Storage (ESS), is entirely new and differs significantly from existing methods of storing electrical energy.

This project directly addresses the decarbonisation of the electricity grid and offers huge global market potential, a market estimated to be worth $30 billion by 2023, helping the UK lead the world in grid-scale energy storage technology.

Approximately **95%** of all grid scale electricity storage worldwide takes the form of pumped storage hydropower. However, high capital cost of construction and inherent efficiency loses mean that the three systems in the UK are purely operated as STOR (short term operational reserve) in the event of black outs at conventional power stations rather than on a regular basis. In addition, two large lithium Ion battery facilities have been built to assist in voltage and frequency stabilization.

The EES system applies the same principles of hydroelectric pumped storage but utilises an alternative method of generating pressure, replacing the hydraulic head in a conventional system. Within the EES system water is discharged at high velocity via a standard Pelton turbine mounted on a generator to create electricity. The water is then pumped back into a pressure vessel to recharge the system.

The advantages of the EES system over current storage technologies are:

1.Not being geographically restricted and could be built near required grid locations with low environmental impact.

2.Fully scalable (from say 100kWh to 1,000MWh), and units could be built relatively quickly.

3.The amount of energy stored remains constant over time and does not reduce like batteries.

4.The lifetime of systems should be 50 -- 75 years compared with only a few years for Lithium Ion battery storage.

5.The storage cycle is inherently more efficient than traditional pumped storage.

6.No exotic or rare metals or compounds are required.

7.It uses standard "off-the shelf" components e.g. generators, centrifugal pumps, a Pelton turbine, heat pumps etc.

A small laboratory-scale system has been built over the past two years near Exeter University. To date, no engineering or technical issues have been identified that might prevent the technology from operating as designed.

The purpose of the funding would be to: -

\*Produce independently verified performance data on the system.

\*Design and install the computerised control gear to monitor and operate the system.

\*Secure a Patent to cover all non-public domain aspects of the design.

\*Design a commercial scale fully operational prototype.

The funding will enable us to develop the concept to a point where the technology is suitable for commercial development in conjunction with the National Grid and/or a larger UK-based company working in this area.