The Anonymous Widower

Shares Available In ‘UK-First’ Community-Owned Battery Energy Storage System

The title of this post is the same as that on this article on Solar Power Portal.

This is the sub-heading.

Low Carbon Hub, an Oxfordshire-based developer of community-owned renewable energy projects, is inviting investment in the 3MW/12MWh BESS.

These four paragraphs add more details.

Consumers have the opportunity to invest in the UK’s ‘first’ community-owned battery energy storage system (BESS).

Low Carbon Hub, an Oxfordshire-based developer of community-owned renewable energy projects, is inviting investment in the 3MW/12MWh BESS, which is co-located with the Ray Valley solar power plant.

At one time the largest community-owned solar development in the UK, the 19MW Ray Valley solar project came online in 2022.

Low Carbon Hub now plans to install battery energy storage at the site to “ensure more clean energy is used, and more money is generated for communities,” it said. As such, members of the public and organisations can buy shares in the Community Energy Fund through direct impact investing platform Ethex.

I think we could see more of this in the future.

 

March 26, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Finance & Investment | , , , , | Leave a comment

The Liquid Air Alternative To Fossil Fuels

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC Future Web Site.

It is also one of the best articles, I’ve read on the economics of liquid-air energy storage.

This is the sub-heading.

An overlooked technology for nearly 50 years, the world’s largest liquid air energy storage facility is finally set to power up in 2026. It’s hoping to compete with grid-scale lithium batteries and hydro to store clean power, and reduce the need to fall back on fossil fuels.

These three introductory paragraphs add detail to the project.

As the world’s use of renewable electricity soars, surpassing coal for the first time, the need to store that energy when the Sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing is growing in step. While some turn to grid-scale lithium batteries and others to pumped hydro, a small but growing industry is convinced there’s a better solution still: batteries that rely on air.

Near the village of Carrington in north-west England, the foundations are being laid for the world’s largest commercial-scale liquid air energy storage facility, one of the first of its kind. The site will eventually become an array of industrial machinery and a number of large storage tanks, filled with air that has been compressed and cooled so much it has become a liquid, using renewable energy surplus to demand. The stored energy can be discharged later when demand exceeds supply.

If the project succeeds, more will follow. The site’s developers Highview Power are confident that liquid air energy storage will make it easier for countries to replace fossil fuels with clean renewable energy – though at present, the technology is expensive. But as the need for clean energy storage surges, they’re betting the balance will tip in favour of liquid air.

The BBC article, seems to have been written with input from Shaylin Cetegen, a chemical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who studies energy storage systems.

Topics discussed include.

  • The intermittency problem of renewables and how this gives problems for the stability of electricity grids.
  • The switchable nature of fossil-fuel power generation.
  • A big part of the solution is to store the surplus energy so that it can be released when it’s needed. Think of it like an electricity deposit account!
  • For decades, the main form of energy storage has been pumped hydro. In 2021, the world had 160 GW of pumped hydro capacity. The UK has a total of just 3 GW in Scotland and Wales! But more is on the way!
  • Recently, large-scale battery storage systems have risen to the challenge and installed capacity has risen from 55.7 GW in 2023 to 150 GW / 348 GWh in 2025.
  • The liquid air solution is then explained.
  • A grid-scale stop-gap, that is the 30 MW/300 MWh Manchester hybrid liquid-air battery, is then described.
  • In August 2026, the battery is set to begin operating.
  • An alternative way of stabilising the grid will be provided.
  • It will come online in two stages, says Highview Power CEO Richard Butland.
  • Then in 2027 the liquid air storage is expected to begin fully operating.

Highview Power will make money by trading electricity, as pumped storage operators do.

The penultimate section of the article looks at the bottom line and comes to these conclusions.

Instead, she says governments could support the technology. In her study, subsidising the initial capital costs to set up the systems “could be a viable approach to achieve economic viability in the short term”, she says.

Furthermore, faster uptake of renewables would increase energy price volatility, making energy storage more economically viable.

Cetegen makes a final point in favour of liquid air energy storage: it’s cheap. Energy storage technologies are often assessed using a metric called the “levelised cost of storage”, which estimates how much each unit of stored energy costs over the lifespan of the project. For liquid air, this can be as low as $45 (£34) per megawatt-hour – compared to $120 (£89) for pumped hydro and $175 (£130) for lithium-ion batteries.

“While none of these storage methods are likely economically viable right now without policy support, liquid air energy storage stands out as a particularly cost-effective option for large-scale storage,” Cotegen says.

Ultimately, Butland expects electricity grids to rely on a mix of storage technologies. Pumped hydro is extremely effective and works for decades, but it’s location-dependent because it needs a water supply. Meanwhile, batteries are highly efficient and can be placed anywhere, but need to be replaced after about 10 years. Liquid air has the advantage that it can store energy for longer than batteries, with minimal losses.

As any country enters the green transition, its electricity grid needs to be remodelled to cope. “We’re rebuilding all grids globally, based on new generation,” says Butland. And that could well mean a lot of liquid air energy storage.

 

March 21, 2026 Posted by | Energy Storage, Energy | , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

NextEnergy Solar Fund To Shift To Energy Storage And Divest Solar in Strategic Overhaul

The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the Solar Power Portal.

This is the sub-heading.

As part of the reset, NextEnergy said it will increase its energy storage exposure up to 30% of its gross asset value, a significant increase on its current rate of 10%.

These two paragraphs give more of their reasoning.

NextEnergy Solar Fund has completed a “strategic reset” of its investment strategy which will see it focus on energy storage assets and increase project sales.

As part of the reset, NextEnergy said it will increase its energy storage exposure up to 30% of its gross asset value, a significant increase on its current rate of 10%. The company said the shift would “enhance the Company’s existing stable revenues generated by its operational solar assets and support future revenues”.

In Is Sumitomo Heavy Industries Highview Power Energy Storage System On Line At Hiroshima?, I describe a power supply system developed by Sumitomo Heavy Industries to supply a stable 5 MW to a LNG Terminal, using these components.

  • A Cold Source
  • Solar Panels
  • A 5 MW/20 MWh Highview Power liquid-air CRYObattery.

Do Sumitomo Heavy Industries believe that a combination of energy and/or battery sources working together gives the quality of stable power, that is needed by today’s modern factories, facilities and buildings?

As a Graduate Control Engineer, I very much believe stable power supplies are a good thing and Sumitomo Heavy Industries obviously feel that Highview Power’s liquid air CRYObatteries are a good way to provide them.

The adding of a battery into a solar-powered renewable power supply, would surely, increase the amount of batteries that NextEnergy were financing.

 

 

March 12, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Finance & Investment | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Much Electricity Do You Need To Charge A Garage Full Of Electric Buses?

Consider.

I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this comprehensive answer.

Charging a full garage of electric buses requires massive amounts of electricity, with typical, non-optimized charging for a 100-bus depot capable of drawing nearly 10 megawatts (MW) of power. To put this into perspective, a 100-bus depot might require roughly 150 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy to recharge over an eight-hour night.

Key Factors and Energy Requirements

Energy Consumption per Bus: A typical electric bus has a battery capacity between 300-500 kWh. Energy consumption averages around 1.11 to 1.35 kWh/km, with higher consumption in winter or with heavy A/C use.

Total Depot Power: For a 100-bus depot, power requirements can reach 10 MW, equivalent to the power output of a small hydroelectric dam.

Optimal Charging: Using smart charging, a 100-bus depot can reduce its peak demand to around 4 MW.

Daily Usage: A single, large electric bus can consume up to 500 kWh per day, with daily demand ranging from 189 to 231 kWh for typical operations.

Infrastructure and Grid Considerations

Charging Infrastructure: Depots often use 40 kW to 250 kW chargers, with 100 kW common for overnight charging.

Grid Capacity: A 34-bus depot might require a new 1000kVA transformer to handle the load.

Voltage: 11,000 volts may be required to power new substations, which are then stepped down to 400 volts for charging.

Operational Factors Affecting Energy Need

Heating and Cooling: Cold weather can increase energy consumption by up to 45% (due to electric heating).

Driving Style: Inefficient driving can increase energy consumption by 0.24 kWh/km above average.

Regenerative Braking: This can recover 37–40% of energy for 40-60 ft buses.

Cost Implications

Energy Bills: A 100-bus depot can incur monthly energy bills between $112,000 and $515,000 without optimization.

Cost Savings: Electric buses are generally cheaper to fuel, costing ~£0.21/mile compared to £0.49/mile for diesel.

Could A System Based On The Sumitomo/Highview Power System At Hiroshima Charge Electric Buses?

The optimal charging figure for a 100-bus garage would appear to be in the region of 4-5 MW.

In Is Sumitomo Heavy Industries Highview Power Energy Storage System On line At Hiroshima?, I state, that it looks like Highview Power’s CRYOBattery™ at the heart of the system has a capacity of 5 MW/20 MWh.

I also state in the post, that the Hiroshima facility is designed to support grid stability and enhance renewable energy integration.

Does this all mean that if you can install enough solar panels on the roof of the garage or perhaps a wind turbine nearby, that you can have buses substantially powered by the sun and wind.

Chicago would just love wind-powered buses!

 

March 3, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Is Sumitomo Heavy Industries Highview Power Energy Storage System On Line At Hiroshima?

From some work I did at ICI in the 1970s on a PACE231R analog computer, I believe that Highview Power may have an extremely promising way of storing energy.

The Highview Power web site talks of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, who are building one of Highview’s batteries at Hiroshima in Japan.

So I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this comprehensive answer.

Yes, the Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) Highview Power liquid air energy storage (LAES) commercial demonstration plant in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, is operational, having commenced operations on December 1, 2025.

Key details about the plant:
Location: Within the Hiroshima Gas Hatsukaichi LNG Terminal.
Capacity: 5 MW output with 4-hour storage (4 MW charging).
Technology: Uses Highview Power’s CRYOBattery™ technology, specifically utilizing waste cold from the adjacent LNG terminal to improve efficiency.
Role: The facility is designed to support grid stability and enhance renewable energy integration.
A completion ceremony for the project was held on December 9, 2025. This news item from Sumitomo Heavy Industries gives more details.
This paragraph describes Liquid Air Energy Storage or (LAES).
In LAES, surplus power such as off-peak power and renewable energy is utilized to compress and cool air, liquefying it for storage in tanks. When electricity is needed, the liquefied air is pressurized, vaporized, and heated to drive a turbine generator and supply electricity. It is well-suited for long duration energy storage. It not only helps balance electricity supply and demand but also provides a constant, stable supply of inertia and reactive power, thereby contributing to grid stabilization. In combination with unstable renewable energy generation sources like solar power, it can replace thermal power plants.
Note.
  1. It looks like the battery has a capacity of 5 MW/20 MWh.
  2. As it talks about using waste cold, this looks to be a very professionally-designed specialist application.
  3. But surely, that would be expected from a company like Sumitomo Heavy Industries.
Some of the systems, I mathematical-modelled for ICI could certainly have benefited from Highview’s technology.
How Many LNG Terminals Are There In The World?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this section and received this answer.
There are hundreds of LNG terminals globally, with significant growth driven by over 300 projects (roughly 177 import/regasification and 124 export/liquefaction) expected between 2025 and 2030. In 2023, there were 22 countries with active liquefaction (export) capacity, while Europe alone operates roughly 28 large-scale terminals, supplemented by a rapidly expanding fleet of FSRUs.
Export Capacity: In 2023, global liquefaction capacity was 472 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with top exporters being Australia, the U.S., and Qatar.
Expansion: By 2027, 52 new liquefaction terminals are expected to commence operations.
Import Growth: European regasification capacity is expanding, with major terminals in Spain, France, Italy, and new additions in Germany and other nations.
U.S. Infrastructure: The U.S. alone has more than 170 LNG facilities performing various services.
There are a lot of LNG Terminals.
  • They are listed in this Wikipedia entry.
  • There are around thirty in Japan alone.
  • Will Centrica add a 5 MW /20 MWh Highview Power battery to their Grain LNG Terminal?
  • Each facility installed is claimed to be designed to support grid stability and enhance renewable energy integration, so the last part must cut carbon emissions.
It would appear, that Sumitomo could keep busy for many years improving the efficiency of LNG Terminals.
Are There Any Other Chemical Engineering Processes That Give Out Lots Of Waste Cold?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this section and received this answer.
Yes, several major chemical engineering and industrial processes generate significant amounts of “waste cold” (low-grade thermal energy or cryogenic energy) that is often discarded. While the chemical industry conventionally focuses on recovering waste heat, recovering waste cold is becoming increasingly popular for improving energy efficiency, particularly in cryogenic processes.
Here are the primary chemical engineering processes that produce large amounts of waste cold:
  1. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification
  2. Cryogenic Air Separation Units (ASUs)
  3. Dry Ice and CO2 Liquefaction
  4. Liquid Nitrogen Vaporization
  5. Emerging: Cryogenic Carbon Capture
It seems to me that this could be a technology worth exploiting, which Sumitomo are already doing in the case of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification.
How Was This Page Created?
  1. Creation of this page was not difficult, but you have to get the tricks right.
  2. I used Google Chrome and Google AI.
  3. My blog is hosted in WordPress.
  4. All pages on this blog, where I have had help in their creation from Google AI are tagged as such.

I would be happy to help anybody, who wanted to use Artificial Intelligence to create blog pages.

 

February 28, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Design, Energy, Energy Storage, Environment | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Polanski And Farage Don’t Agree. But They Have More In Common Than You Might Think

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC, by Laura Kuenssberg.

It is very much a must read article comparing two of the most controversial party leaders in the UK.

This is the sub-heading.

One is a former stockbroker from the south who, by his own proud admission, loves smoking, drinking and women. The other’s a proud vegan, gay, northern former actor, who told me he’d never drunk a drop.

These first three paragraphs add detail to the story.

But the jubilant Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage have rather a lot in common.

Before you scream, burst out laughing, or think I have lost my marbles, of course, there are very big differences between them.

The Greens talk about a climate emergency. Reform UK calls the government green plans, “net stupid zero”.

This is Laura’s summing up of the Terrible Twins.

Their views on the cause of Britain’s pain vary wildly.

The Greens might point the finger at the super-rich, the “donor billionaires” they often cite. Reform often blames immigration, which they controversially characterise as an “invasion” of people arriving in the UK without permission.

But both parties feed off and stir up sentiment that’s felt by lots of the public: that Britain doesn’t work any more.

Whether it’s the new Green MP saying “working hard used to get you something” in her victory speech, or Nigel Farage repeatedly telling us “Britain is broken”, the same argument flows from both: that the country is in such a dreadful state that only new political saviours can fix it.

And both Reform and the Greens are willing to push the conventions of what traditional UK politicians would find acceptable – or what they believe would make them electable.

That’s not just about their image or the unstuffy ways they court publicity – Nigel Farage willingly going into the I’m A Celebrity jungle, or Zack Polanski being seen on a dance floor in campaign videos – but how they choose to focus on sensitive issues, where others might not choose to tread.

I would disagree that Britain is broken, but that it needs someone with sensible policies that everybody can get behind.

The Greens policies on the super-rich would drive anybody with ambition and money from this country and already countries like Canada are advertising for migrants.

With two immigrant lines, Farage is everything my father thought was bad about Oswald Mosley and his fascists in the 1930s. If a Reform UK Government started rounding up illegal immigrants on the streets, the violence would probable be enormous.

 

How Much Renewable Energy Will The UK Be Generating By 2030?

I have to admit, that whether you like the Tories or not, they have developed an energy generation policy and an energy relationship with Germany, that appears to be working and is allowing the current Government to do a bit of spending on defence and other needs.

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this section and received this reply.

The UK government has set an ambitious target to reach 95% low-carbon electricity generation by 2030, aiming for a system driven by 43-50 GW of offshore wind, 27-29 GW of onshore wind, and 45-47 GW of solar power. This plan aims to dramatically reduce fossil fuel reliance, supported by 23-27 GW of battery capacity.

Key 2030 Renewable Energy Projections & Targets:

Total Clean Power Goal: The goal is 95% of electricity from low-carbon sources (renewables and nuclear) by 2030, up from roughly 74% in 2024.

Offshore Wind: Target of 43-50 GW, deemed crucial to powering the grid.

Onshore Wind: Target of 27-29 GW, with recent policy changes lifting bans to accelerate development.

Solar Power: Target of 45-47 GW, aiming to triple current capacity.

Flexibility: 23-27 GW of battery capacity and 4-6 GW of long-duration storage are needed to manage intermittency.

Challenges and Forecasts:

Shortfall Risks: While the government target is high, some projections suggest wind and solar may only account for 44% of generation by 2030, requiring significant acceleration to reach the 95% clean goal.

Investment Needs: Achieving these goals requires an estimated £48 billion in additional investment, on top of planned projects.

Progress: In 2024, renewable sources already hit a record of over 50% in certain quarters, with low-carbon sources overall (including nuclear) providing nearly 70% of generation.

My Thoughts

I will add some of my thoughts.

Electricity Demand: As I write, according to National Grid: Live it is 33.3 GW, which is met by with Production of 27.1 GW and Transfers of 6.2 GW.

Electricity Production: In 2030, I believe that if the UK has long-term battery capacity of something like 4 GW/40 GWh, that total UK electricity production could be upwards of 125 GW.

Hinckley Point C Power Station: This should add 1.6 GW in 2030 and 2031 to further boost UK electricity production.

Pumped Storage Hydro: In How Much Pumped Storage Hydro Will Be Operational In The UK By 2030?, I estimate that the Bank of England standard of energy storage, will add 5 GW of electricity production.

Highview Power: Highview Power are developing long duration liquid-air energy storage and have identified locations for sixteen 300 MW/3.2 GWh monsters.

Excess Electricity Production: This will be exported, either as electricity or after conversion to hydrogen. It will be a Magic Money Forest for the victor of the General Election in 2029.

If Hinckley Point C, the pumped storage hydro and Highview Power’s batteries work as their engineers hope, then the result of the next General Election will be predictable.

It is certainly, Kier Starmer’s to win, by getting the energy right!

Highview Power And The 2029 General Election

Every extra GWh added to energy storage has the following affect.

It will mean that more wind farms will not have to be switched in times of high wind and over production, as the electricity can be stored.

At the present time, there are four ways of storing energy.

  1. Turn it into hydrogen. But the Hindenberg did a good PR job for not using hydrogen.
  2. Store it in a pumped storage hydro system, but these have problems with their large land use.
  3. Store it in a large lithium battery, but these have problems  with fire risks and need a large amount of expensive lithium.
  4. Store it in one of Highview Power’s liquid air batteries.

I believe that Highview Power’s liquid-air long duration batteries, have several advantages.

  • They are built from readily available components.
  • They can be scaled to the need at the location, where they are installed.
  • A small one is 50 MW/300 MWh and a large one is 300 MW/3.2 GWh.
  • The batteries come with grid stabilisation and other features.
  • The batteries have a lifespan of greater than 50 years
  • The energy storage fluid, is captured from the air.
  • They are a product, that would be easy to finance in quantity.
  • Goldman Sachs is an investor.
  • A village with a power problem could fund a Highview Power battery and have a nice little earner, with perhaps a wind turbine on a nearby hill.
  • Centrica is an investor.

If a politician were to understand it, it could wind them the next General Election.

 

 

February 28, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, World | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How Much Pumped Storage Hydro Will Be Operational In The UK By 2030?

Pumped Storage Hydro is the Bank of England-standard for energy storage.

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.

The UK currently has approximately 3 GW (roughly 26-28 GWh) of operational pumped storage hydro (PSH) capacity. By 2030, this capacity is expected to increase, driven by new projects in the pipeline that aim to meet a government goal of up to 8 GW of long-duration energy storage by that year.

Key Projects Expected Online by 2030-2031:

Coire Glas (SSE): A major project in Scotland with a planned capacity of 1.3 GW / 30 GWh, expected to be operational around 2030–31.

Cruachan Expansion (Drax): A 600MW plant in Scotland that has received approval, with construction expected to contribute to the 2030 goal.

Glenmuckloch: Projected to be operational by 2029. In 

Other Developments:

Total Pipeline: Developers have identified up to 10 GW of potential projects in the Scottish Highlands and Wales, though not all will be operational by 2030.

Future Growth: The total installed capacity of PSH is expected to grow significantly, with one projection suggesting a rise from 26.7 GWh currently to over 122 GWh by 2034.

To support these projects, the UK government has confirmed a “cap and floor” investment framework to stimulate development of long-duration energy storage (LDES).

For a relatively small island we do seem to be an ideal place to develop pumped storage hydro!

The Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme

In The Coire Glas Pumped Storage Scheme, I give more details of this scheme.

The Glenmuckloch Pumped Storage Scheme

In The Glenmuckloch Pumped Storage Scheme, I give more details of this scheme, which is based on a disused open cast coal mine.

Addition Of Pumped Storage Hydro By 2030

This looks to be around 5 GW, but it is just a foretaste of the shape of things to come!

February 28, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bid To Create UK’s First Regional Hydrogen Network

The title of this post is the same as this article on the BBC.

This is the sub-heading

Four energy companies are working together to bid for government funding to develop the UK’s first regional hydrogen transport and storage network.

This two paragraphs add more details to the article.

National Gas, Centrica, Equinor and SSE Thermal aim to secure about £500m of funding to develop the network, which will connect sites across the Humber region.

“This is a competitive process that will determine where the UK’s first integrated hydrogen network is built,” a spokesperson for the four companies said.

Note.

  1. There are already several hydrogen projects in the area including Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage,  H2H Saltend, and Ferrybridge and Keadby Next Generation Power Stations.
  2. The local MPs seem in favour.
  3. In Could Doncaster Sheffield Airport Become A Hydrogen Airport?, I laid out my reasons, why Doncaster Sheffield Airport could become a hydrogen airport.

I can see this hydrogen cluster having a big future.

February 26, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Hydrogen, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Baltic Sea Interconnector On Horizon As Lithuania, Latvia, and Germany Plan Cross-Border Link

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.

This is the sub-heading.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Germany are planning a joint offshore interconnector that would enable electricity trading between the Baltic countries and Germany and allow for the integration of up to 2 GW of offshore wind capacity in Lithuania and Latvia

These first two paragraphs add more detail to the article.

The energy ministers of the three countries signed a joint declaration of intent on 18 February, paving the way for the development of the Baltic-German PowerLink interconnector, which would, in addition to electricity trading and offshore wind capacity integration, also enable the expansion of onshore renewable energy capacity.

The Lithuanian, Latvian, and German transmission system operators (TSOs) – Litgrid, Augstsprieguma tīkls and 50Hertz – agreed to assess the feasibility of the hybrid electricity interconnection.

As Germany, has the following connections under development in the West.

  • AquaVentus to Aberdeen, Humberside, Denmark, Norway and The Netherlands.
  • NeuConnect to the Isle of Grain In England.
  • GriffinLink, which is an offshore link to England.

The Germans seem to be putting themselves at the centre of an energy distribution system, that has the capability to stabilise European and UK electricity  for thousands of years. Especially, if the network grows to include more countries.

This paragraph says this about the Baltic-German PowerLink project.

The Baltic-German PowerLink project concept developed by Litgrid, Augstsprieguma tīkls, and 50Hertz includes a 2 GW, approximately 600 kilometres long hybrid offshore connection, with the connection point in the Baltic States planned to be on the border between Lithuania and Latvia. The exact location is to be determined after technical studies.

Note.

  1. The interconnectors may be long, but they are not longer than anything built successfully before in European waters.
  2. The UK and the Island of Ireland are well-linked.
  3. There would appear to be no need for challenging projects like the Morocco-UK Power Project

I suspect that Germany will get the energy it needs and the British Isles will get a nice little earner.

If Europe is generating large amounts of wind and solar energy with its variable output it will need lots of energy storage.

What Countries Have The Terrain For Pumped Storage Hydro In Europe?

I asked Google AI and received this answer.

Key countries with ideal, high-elevation terrain and significant existing or planned capacity include:

Alpine Region (The Heart of European Pumped Storage):

Switzerland: Extremely high capacity due to steep, mountainous landscapes and significant water sources, hosting the world’s oldest working pumped storage plant.

Austria: Heavily mountainous, it is a major player in PSH expansion and modernization.

France: Home to one of Europe’s largest, the Grand Maison hydroelectric power station.

Italy: Holds high capacity with numerous planned projects.

Germany: Strong existing infrastructure.

Southern Europe:

Spain: Features some of Europe’s largest plants (e.g., La Muela/Cortes-La Muela).

Portugal: Significant recent investment in large-scale projects like the Tâmega complex.

Other Potential Areas:

Norway: High potential due to its mountainous, water-rich terrain.

United Kingdom: High project volume currently under construction.

Balkans & Central Europe:

Countries like Bulgaria, Romania, and the Czech Republic have suitable terrain for further development.

These countries benefit from significant hydraulic head (steep drop) and natural or artificial reservoir potential, making them ideal for storing energy for peak consumption hours.

Note.

  1. As expected, the Alpine region is Top of the League.
  2. The UK is holding its own despite its small mountains.
  3. There is a lot of potential to be developed.

But then Electric Mountain in Snowdonia is certainly at the top table of pumped storage systems despite being built in the 1980s.

What Countries Have The Terrain For Hydrogen Storage In Europe?

I asked Google AI and received this answer.

Key European countries with suitable geological terrain—specifically salt caverns and depleted gas fields—for large-scale, underground hydrogen storage include Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and France. Other significant regions for storage potential include Spain, Hungary, and Austria, which are developing porous storage facilities.

Key Regions & Terrain Types:

Salt Caverns (North-Western Europe): Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, and the UK have substantial salt deposits suitable for creating caverns, identified as cost-efficient for large-scale storage.

Depleted Gas Fields (Porous Rock): The Netherlands, Germany, and parts of Central/Southern Europe (Spain, Hungary) have significant capacity in existing porous storage, particularly in the North Sea region.

Specific Projects: Germany (Uniper’s Krummhörn project), Netherlands (HyStock), and France (HYPSTER at Etrez) are active, with Spain and Denmark emerging as major hydrogen hubs.

Capacity Potential: The Netherlands, for instance, holds massive potential (35-60 TWh) due to its offshore and onshore depleted fields.

Salt cavern projects, which offer high-deliverability storage, are heavily concentrated in the North-Western European industrial corridor.

I was lucky enough have a tour of ICI’s salt mine in Cheshire, when I worked there in the 1960s and I remember these facts from those days.

  • There was enough salt in the ground under Cheshire to last several thousand years.
  • Most salt was extracted from boreholes,  for making chlorine using electrolysis and the Castner-Kellner process.
  • Hydrogen was a by-product and much of it was mixed with coal gas to raise steam for the works.

The same technique used to make boreholes to extract the salt, is used to hollow caverns in the salt to store gases like hydrogen.

Once, when they were digging salt out of the salt mine at Winsford, a worker broke into an unmarked borehole and ICI nearly lost the mine because of the water rushing in.

Two stories stand out from the rescue of the mine.

  • There was a need for dry clothes for all the workers, so ICI took a truck to Marks & Spencer in Northwich and emptied it of anything they might need. I was told the story enriched with plagues of locusts.
  • A Ford Transit was found to have travelled a few thousand miles underground in axle deep salt slurry. Rather, than scrap it and buy another, it was offered back to Ford, who were delighted to swap it for a new one. I heard that Ford said, that the accelerated corrosion research would have taken many years, if done on the roads.

Always think out of the box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 25, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage, Hydrogen | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are Hitachi’s Tri-Mode Trains Exceeding Expectations?

I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.

Yes, Hitachi’s tri-mode (battery-hybrid) trains are exceeding expectations, particularly following successful trials in the UK in late 2024. Trials of the battery-equipped Class 802/2 demonstrated superior performance to initial forecasts, leading to a £300 million order for a new fleet to be delivered in 2028.

Key findings from trials and operational expectations:

Performance Exceeded: The trial, conducted with TransPennine Express and Angel Trains, showed fuel cost savings of 35%–50%, surpassing initial predictions of up to 30%.

Operational Capability: The battery technology enabled trains to reach speeds greater than 75 mph and provided enough range for zero-emission, silent running in and out of stations, significantly reducing noise and improving air quality.

Energy Efficiency: The battery matched the weight of a diesel engine, meaning no extra track degradation.

Future Impact: The success of the trial led to an order from Arriva Group for a new fleet for Grand Central services, which will increase seating capacity by 20% and are expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

These trains, designed to run on electric, battery, or diesel power, are part of a push to modernize rail services, with the technology allowing for the gradual elimination of diesel-only operation on certain routes.

That is certainly good performance and Hitachi received a £300 million order, which I wrote about in Arriva Group Invests In New Battery Hybrid Train Fleet In Boost To UK Rail Industry

But I don’t think it’s all down to Hitachi, as Hitachi linked up with Sunderland-based Hyperdrive Innovation, who are JCB’s battery supplier. Hyperdrive were taken over by Turntide Technologies in 2021.

In Batteries Ordered For Grand Central Inter-City Trains, I said this.

Hitachi Rail has selected Turntide Technologies to supply lithium iron phosphate batteries for use on electric-diesel-battery hybrid inter-city trainsets it is to build for Arriva’s open access operator Grand Central.

I am coming to the conclusion, that Turntide Technologies use and/or make some very special batteries.

I asked Google AI, “Which make of battery cells does Turntide use?” and received this reply.

Based on recent announcements (2023–2025), Turntide Technologies utilizes advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells for its next-generation battery systems, particularly for its partnership with Hitachi Rail.

Key details regarding Turntide’s battery cell usage include:

Chemistry Shift:

While previously associated with Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) in some applications, Turntide has focused its recent rail projects with Hitachi on LFP technology to enhance safety and allow for more compact, powerful, and lighter battery packs.

Application:

These LFP batteries are used in high-performance, rugged, and space-limited environments, such as Hitachi’s UK battery-operated trains.

Modular Design:

Turntide’s Gen 5 battery systems are designed to be flexible for various applications including construction, agriculture, and mining, using modular, high-energy-density cells.

Previous Technology:

Previously, Turntide (which acquired Hyperdrive Innovation) used Lithium-ion NMC cells for its battery packs.

The search results do not explicitly identify a specific, named manufacturer (e.g., CATL, LG, Samsung) for the cells, but focus on the LFP chemistry utilized by Turntide.

I am also coming to the conclusion, that they took over Hyperdrive Innovation to get control of these compact, powerful, and lighter battery packs.

 

 

 

February 10, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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