The Anonymous Widower

National Grid Rollout New Technology To Expand The Capacity Of Existing Power Lines

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.

These four bullet points act as sub-headings.

  • Latest rollout of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) technology highlights spare capacity on existing power lines allowing greater power flows

  • New instalments on 585km of key north to south transmission network routes has the potential to save consumers up to £50 million in constraint costs

  • Over the last five years DLR has saved £21million in constraint costs and complemented upgrades to the existing transmission network (such as reconductoring and the use of power flow controllers) which have added over 16GW of new capacity to the existing network.

  • National Grid is unlocking more power from the existing grid faster and more cheaply, using innovative technology to meet increased demand, alongside constructing new infrastructure.

These first three paragraphs of the press release describe National Grid’s use of Dynamic Line Rating.

National Grid has announced a significant expansion of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) technology across its electricity transmission network in England and Wales. Under a new five-year contract, Dynamic Line Ratings will be deployed across an additional 585km of key north-to-south transmission routes, potentially saving consumers up to £50 million over the next five years.

Meeting the growing demand for electricity requires both new infrastructure and smarter use of what already exists. DLR is an innovative yet proven technology that continuously monitors overhead line conditions to calculate a real-time capacity rating based on actual conductor behaviour and local weather, rather than the fixed conservative assumptions that have historically governed line ratings.

The result is a safe, reliable optimisation of available capacity on existing infrastructure, with the sensors and data analytics platforms allowing for a safe increase of the power carrying capacity of a circuit by an average of 8%. This reduces the need for constraint payments, where a generator is paid to stop generating to avoid overloading the electricity network.

This is an brilliant application of instrumentation, automation and very smart computing, that creates an average of eight per cent more capacity in the National Grid.

It’s like smart motorways for electrons, that from the press release appears to work.

I have some thoughts.

Reconductoring Is Mentioned

I suspect that the grid is highly instrumented and the grid can pick up areas that need to be replaced, but the masses of data a system like this will collect, will only improve their knowledge of the grid and give better predictions of where and how cables need to be replaced. Sophisticated modelling will also indicate, things like whether fatter cables here and there could squeeze more capacity into the network.

In the 1970s, I provided the software for the Water Resources Board to analyse and plan the pipelines and reservoirs for water supply in large parts of England.

Given that over the years, most of the problems over the years with the water industry, seem to apply to sewage, ownership, politics, equipment failure, rather than taps actually running dry, I suspect that Dr. Dimeloe and his team did a magnificent job. I would love to know the truth from one of the team.

As fifty years later, modelling software must be more sophisticated, I suspect a continuous analysis of the grid could give substantial benefits.

More And Better Sensors Will Be Developed

As needs arise, the systems will get more and more sophisticated and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the capacity of the grid increase by more than expected.

There Are 4,000 Miles Of High Voltage Overhead Lines In The UK

So if, National Grid can get an eight percent increase as the press release indicates, they might be able to add the equivalent of 320 miles to the electricity transmission network, without the hassle of applying for planning permission or dealing with Nimbies.

There might also be a cost saving as Google AI indicated that high voltage transmission lines cost around two million pounds per mile.

I Can Envisage Sophisticated Connection Networks For Offshore Wind Farms Using Coastal Or Even Offshore Batteries To Maximise The Energy Generated

Consider.

  • The output of a wind farm varies throughout the day and night.
  • Some of the variation in a wind farm’s output may be predictable.
  • Batteries and/or capacitors are good at smoothing variation in electrical power output and demand.
  • Capacitors are useful for smoothing out high-frequencies.
  • Highview Power are now building a 50 MW/300 MWh and a 500 MW/3.2 GWh battery, that both come with a sophisticated control system, they call a stability island providing inertia (frequency stability), short-circuit strength, and voltage control.
  • Dynamic Line Rating can be applied to the transmission line, that connects the wind farm and the battery to the grid.

Getting all these assets to work as a team, is a challenge some of the world’s best engineer/programmers would relish.

I could envisage, that systems like this could deliver hundreds of mill-pond smooth megawatts, that would be just what data centre owners wanted and needed.

Conclusion

The application of Dynamic Line Rating is going to revolutionise the electricity grid all over the world.

 

 

May 4, 2026 Posted by | Computing, Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Oman Set For Next Frontier In Energy Storage

The title of this post is the same as that of this article on the Times of Oman.

This first paragraph introduces the story.

Oman’s solar story is already being written. Manah, Ibri II, and the next wave of solar IPPs moving through procurement have placed the Sultanate firmly among the region’s renewable leaders. The next chapter, the one every solar-rich nation is racing to author, is about the long-duration energy storage technology that powers the grid after sunset. Lithium-ion batteries handle the first few hours effectively. What comes after is the harder problem, and it is increasingly being solved by a technology called Liquid Air Energy Storage, or LAES: a technology that aligns naturally with Oman’s industrial base.

The article then describes how the technology to handle LAES technology aligns with all their expertise in handling liquified natural gas.

This paragraph outlines Oman’s expertise in cryogenic engineering.

Oman’s natural advantage in this race deserves far more attention than it has received. Cryogenic engineering, the discipline of holding substances at extraordinarily low temperatures without losing them, is the most demanding part of any LAES plant. It is also the foundation of the LNG export business that has run out of Qalhat for a quarter of a century. The workforce that liquefies natural gas at minus 162 degrees Celsius is the same workforce that can liquefy air. The insulation expertise, the compressor specifications, and the maintenance discipline are all already here, refined over decades and built locally. Few nations possess this depth of capability as a domestic resource. Oman does.

If Oman have called this one right, then any nation with plentiful renewable resources, of solar, hydro, offshore wind or geothermal, should be looking at Liquid Air Energy Storage.

This is not the first time, that Liquid Air Energy Storage has been paired with LNG.

Highview Power are the UK pioneers of Liquid Air Energy Storage and on the Projects page of their web site, there is this section on Japan.

Our investment partner Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI), together with Hiroshima Gas, is developing a grid‑scale LAES demonstration plant in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima. The 5 MW, four‑hour facility will use waste cold from an adjacent LNG terminal to enhance efficiency and sustainability, showcasing the flexibility of Highview’s modular LAES technology. The plant is scheduled to be operational in 2025.

In Is Sumitomo Heavy Industries Highview Power Energy Storage System On Line At Hiroshima?, I describe how the Hiroshima plant held a completion ceremony on the 9th December, 2025.

Liquid Air Energy Storage and LNG may seem unlikely bedfellows, but when engineers share a few beers, joint projects seem to emerge.

 

May 4, 2026 Posted by | Energy Storage, Energy | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Europe: New Fund To Upgrade Solar And Wind Assets With Battery Storage

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Review Energy.

This is the sub-heading.

The Aream Group has launched a new European investment vehicle targeting the renewable energy sector, with a strategy that combines power generation, storage and electricity marketing.

These three paragraphs add more details to the story.

The Clean Energy Future Fund II (CEFF II) will focus on integrating renewable generation assets with battery storage systems to improve the use of grid connections, which are increasingly scarce across European markets. According to Markus W. Voigt, Executive Chairman of aream Group, the hybrid model is designed to respond to growing volatility in electricity markets.

“With this hybrid approach, we are leveraging the changes and increased volatility in the European electricity markets for the benefit of our investors,” Voigt said.

The fund will primarily invest in Europe, with a particular focus on Germany, and will build on an existing portfolio of operational assets. A central element of the strategy is the addition of battery storage to solar and wind farms, allowing them to evolve from pure generation assets into providers of grid services.

I have a Google Alert which looks for “Energy Storage Fund” and this story was one of nine substantial stories.

This story talks about €400 million and two others talk about €300 million and AU $ 1.4 billion, respectively.

So hopefully, this money will help to mop up some of the energy wasted, when wind farms are curtailed.

Certainly, these funds don’t seem to have difficulty finding money to invest.

April 30, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Finance & Investment | , , , , , | Leave a comment

SSE And Centrica Lifted As UK Moves Wind And Solar Farms To Fixed-Price Contracts

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Proactive Investor.

These two paragraphs add more detail.

Shares in SSE PLC (LSE:SSE), Centrica and several renewable energy investment companies rose after the UK government confirmed plans to move older wind and solar farms onto fixed-price contracts, or else be hit with higher windfall taxes.

SSE, which owns windfarms and hydroelectric power plants, saw its share climb 3.3% to 2,610p on Tuesday, while fellow FTSE 100-listed energy producer Centrica PLC (LSE:CNA), which owns British Gas, and FTSE 250-listed biomass burner Drax Group (LSE:DRX) were up 2.3% and 1.8%.

In World’s Largest Wind Farm Attracts Huge Backing From Insurance Giant, I posted an article, about why insurance companies invest in renewables.

I suspect someone has come up with an idea to make wind farms more attractive for long term investors.

The new mechanism are called Wholsale Contracts for Different and have this aim.

The move is aimed at breaking the link between electricity prices and gas in the UK, as wholesale power prices are currently set based on the gas price, despite renewables generating a growing share of power.

The proposed wholesale CfDs would target legacy assets

This can only be good for the UK, as we have so many long term renewables.

I also wonder, whether they will make Highview Power’s liquid air batteries a worthwhile investment?

April 21, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Finance & Investment | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Optimisation Agreement For 70 MW / 160 MWh BESS In Sweden

The title of this post is the same as that of this press release from Centrica.

This is the sub-heading.

Centrica Energy, the energy trading and optimisation arm of Centrica plc, has signed an optimisation agreement with Ånge Storage Solutions AB, a project company jointly established by Delta Capacity, a Swiss-based developer of utility-scale battery storage systems, and Wood & Co., a leading European investment bank and asset manager, for a 70 MW / 160 MWh battery project in Ånge, Sweden, scheduled to be commissioned in Q2 2026.

These three paragraphs add more detail.

Once operational, the Ånge project will be the largest BESS currently in operation in the Nordics, underlining the strong partnership between the companies and the project’s clear strategic significance and market impact. The project represents a major step forward for grid flexibility in Sweden, supporting the country’s rapidly growing renewable energy capacity while strengthening system stability in the SE2 bidding zone.

Under the agreement, Centrica Energy will act as optimiser for the project, providing 24/7 in-house trading and optimisation services. Leveraging advanced forecasting, real-time market benchmarking and AI-enhanced trading algorithms, Centrica Energy will optimise the battery across wholesale electricity markets and ancillary services, dynamically capturing value across multiple revenue streams.

The agreement on the Ånge project kicks off the partnership between Centrica Energy and Delta Capacity, underlining the companies’ shared ambition to accelerate flexible energy solutions across the Nordics.

It seems that Centrica are doing some serious programming, which mirrors the offbeat engineering, that was hinted at in Centrica Tackles Difficult Terrain To Deliver Sustainable Solar Solution For Derbyshire Manufacturer.

You can’t do anything but like Centrica’s robust attitude  and their determination to get things done.

I also wonder, if Centrica are putting their expertise and technical excellence alongside the money and risk of others!

You can argue it was like that with Artemis in the last thirty years of the last century. One quarter million pound computer and software package would be planning and controlling the building of a multi-billion pound project.

I feel now, that I can say that now the Channel Tunnel is part of my history.

From the words of the press release, they seem to have developed a very-sophisticated hybrid-battery-control system, where types with expertise-honed on the trading floor or even the battlefield, could be intimately involved in the decisions.

As a check on my use of battlefield, I asked Google AI”if ex military weapons officers good operators on a city trading floor?” and received this reply.

Ex-military weapons officers—and military officers more broadly—can make excellent operators on a city trading floor, as their skill sets in leadership, pressure management, and risk assessment are highly transferable and increasingly sought after by financial institutions.

Key Reasons Military Officers Succeed as Traders

Decision-Making Under Extreme Pressure: Operational officers are accustomed to making critical, split-second decisions with limited information, which mirrors the environment of a volatile trading floor.

Risk Management & Discipline: The military teaches meticulous planning, risk mitigation, and strict adherence to procedures. In trading, this translates into managing margin, controlling losses, and following a strict, repeatable trading strategy.

High Mental Stamina and Resilience: The ability to stay calm and focused when others are losing their composure is a key trait that veterans bring, helping them survive high-stress trading scenarios.

Adaptability: The ability to respond to changing circumstances on the battlefield translates into managing portfolios in rapidly shifting market conditions.

Transferable Skills Checklist
Strategy & Logistics: Background in understanding supply chain imbalances (supply/demand).

Communication: Ability to convey orders clearly and concisely.

Integrity: High level of discipline and accountability.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

While they possess strong psychological skills for trading, ex-military personnel often face a steep learning curve regarding technical financial knowledge and specific market terminology. Furthermore, the transition from a highly structured hierarchy to a meritocracy—where the only measure of success is profit/loss—requires a change in mindset.

Industry Adoption

Banks and trading firms in both the UK and US have recognized the value of these skills, with firms like Citibank and various prop firms establishing veteran-focused programs to hire and train former military personnel.

Conclusion

If ex-military weapons officers can adapt their ability to assess risks and manage operations to financial data, their natural inclination to stay calm under pressure and operate with discipline makes them top candidates for trading roles.

April 16, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Energy, Energy Storage, Finance & Investment | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mining Firms Turn To Renewables And Battery Storage In Bid To Ditch Diesel

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article from Reuters.

These four bullet points act as sub-headings.

  • Mining operations depend on diesel generators, far from electricity grids
  • Fortescue installs 250MWh BYD battery in West Australia to store energy from solar power
  • RheEnergise’s Devon plant supplying pumped hydro power to a kaolin mine
  • Sandvik offering miners a “battery-as-a-service” model to cut energy costs

These paragraphs introduce the article.

In Western Australia’s Pilbara region, a new feature is being added to an ancient landscape: rows of containerised batteries. Iron ore mining giant Fortescue took delivery of its first major battery energy storage system (BESS) from Chinese manufacturer BYD in December 2025. The 48 containers in this batch have a capacity of 250 megawatt hours (MWh). By 2030, the company plans to have up to 5 gigawatt hours (GWh) in place, the largest in Australia.

Fortescue says its plans for BESS may be vast in ambition, yet simple in execution.

“It’s literally dropping shipping containers on the ground and plugging them in,” says Dino Otranto, the company’s CEO ​for metals and operations. “There’s not much more complexity than that. You don’t have to build a billion-dollar power station, with all the complexity.”

Like the iron ore-rich Pilbara, major deposits of the world’s most important mineral resources lie in remote regions, far from national electricity ‌grids. That means mining companies typically rely on highly polluting and carbon-intensive diesel generators to power their operations.

It certainly seems, that Fortescue, who are one of the world’s largest mining groups,  are convinced of the value of batteries.

But another mining giant is involved in developing batteries. In UK Infrastructure Bank, Centrica & Partners Invest £300M in Highview Power Clean Energy Storage Programme To Boost UK’s Energy Security, this is said.

The £300 million funding round was led by the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) and the British multinational energy and services company Centrica, alongside a syndicate of investors including Rio Tinto, Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI and Mosaic Capital.

Note.

  1. Highview Power’s CRYOBatteries use air in its liquid form as a storage medium. That surely must be very cool!
  2. Highview Power’s largest battery under development is 300 MW/3.2 GWh.
  3. KIRKBI is the private fund of the LEGO family.
  4. Goldman Sachs and Mosaic Capital must be good for a few quid.
  5. Rio Tinto is a UK-Listed mining company.

Out of curiosity, I asked Google AI, “Are Highview Power Developing Large Battery Applications For Mining?” and received this reply.

Yes, Highview Power is heavily investing in and developing large-scale, long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions—which they refer to as “liquid air batteries” (CRYOBattery™)—that are designed to support heavy industries, including potential applications for mining and remote industrial operations.

While their primary focus has been on grid-scale, long-duration energy storage, these systems are suitable for industrial sites that require high-power,, high-capacity, and dependable, dispatchable energy that typical chemical batteries (like Lithium-ion) cannot provide over long durations.

Key Aspects of Highview Power’s Development:
Technology: Highview’s CRYOBattery™ is a Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) system that uses renewable energy to turn air into liquid at -196°C, storing it, and then expanding it back to gas to drive turbines.

Scale and Scope: They are developing projects with a capacity range of 50 megawatts to hundreds of megawatts, providing energy for 8 to 24 hours.

Projects and Investment:
UK Projects: A 300 MWh facility in Carrington, Manchester, is currently being built and is scheduled to be operational by 2026.

Major Expansion: A 2.5 GWh facility, which will be the world’s largest, is being developed at Hunterston, Scotland, with plans to build four such large-scale facilities in the UK.

Australia & Japan: They are developing base-load renewable power projects in Australia—specifically in Gladstone, Townsville, and the Northern Territory (Darwin-Katherine)—which often include mining and high-load industrial sites.

Mining Sector Connections: Highview Power’s funding rounds have been backed by major mining and resources companies, including Rio Tinto and Sumitomo.

Suitability for Remote Mining: The system can be located anywhere (unlike pumped hydro), is modular, and uses proven off-the-shelf components, making it ideal for the high energy requirements of the mining industry.

Highview’s technology is designed to store excess energy from wind and solar over long periods and release it on demand, which is critical for making renewable energy as flexible as traditional fossil fuels in industrial contexts.

I further asked Google AI, “Where Are Highview Power Going To Build Their First Four Big Batteries In the UK”, and received this reply.

Highview Power is developing a multi-billion pound, long-duration energy storage programme in the UK, utilizing Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) technology, which acts as a “big battery” by storing excess renewable energy as liquid air.

The company has identified over 16 potential sites, with the first four major projects planned for the following locations:

Carrington, Manchester (Trafford Energy Park): Currently under construction, this is the flagship 50MW/300MWh commercial-scale plant. It is scheduled to be operational by early 2026.

Hunterston, North Ayrshire (Scotland): This is the first of the “Millennium Series” plants, announced as the first in a new second phase of four projects. The 2.5 GWh facility is set to have its stability island operational by 2027.

Killingholme, Lincolnshire: Named as another site eligible for the UK government’s Cap and Floor support scheme, which aids in financing these large-scale projects.

Fourth Site (TBD): Highview Power’s second phase includes two in Scotland and two in England (likely including Killingholme), bringing 10 GWh of new capacity online by 2030.

Key Project Details
Total Investment: Backed by over £500m in funding from the UK Infrastructure Bank and Centrica.

Purpose: These plants store surplus wind and solar power for up to several weeks, addressing grid congestion and allowing for the closure of fossil fuel power stations.

Technology: Unlike lithium-ion, LAES uses liquified air, providing long-duration storage (6+ hours) with a 50+ year plant life.

The Hunterston project is expected to support 1,000 jobs during construction.

My project management experience would lead me to expect, that building each project would lead to a number of jobs being created, during the construction phase. That can’t be bad!

How is the Sumitomo/Highview Power CRYOBattery Performing At Hiroshima?

I will finish by talking about the Sumitomo/Highview Power CRYOBattery, which I talked about in Is Sumitomo Heavy Industries Highview Power Energy Storage System On Line At Hiroshima?

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

The Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) and Highview Power Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) plant in Hiroshima is officially operational and performing as a key commercial demonstration of long-duration energy storage. The plant, located at the Hiroshima Gas Hatsukaichi LNG Terminal, began operations on December 1, 2025, with a inauguration ceremony held shortly after.

Here is a breakdown of its performance and status:
Operational Role: The plant is functioning as the world’s first commercial-scale LAES plant integrated with LNG cold energy, delivering zero-carbon energy and providing grid stability for Japan’s power system.

Capacity and Technology: It operates with a 5 MW output and 4-hour storage (approx. 4 MW charging), utilizing waste cold from the adjacent Hiroshima Gas LNG terminal to increase efficiency.

Performance Objectives: The facility is designed to prove that LAES technology is a viable, scalable, and emission-free solution for grid storage.
Development: The project was delivered through a collaboration between Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW), and Highview Power.

The plant is considered a significant step in Japan’s 2050 carbon neutrality strategy and confirms the potential of using cryogenic technology for long-duration energy storage.

Conclusion

Sumitomo, Highview Power and their partners now appear to be ready to go forth and multiply.

April 11, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Our Wind Farm Won’t Discourage Bronte Tourists’

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

This is the sub-title.

The developers of England’s largest wind farm have claimed that the turbines will not discourage visitors to moors once loved by the Bronte sisters.

These three paragraphs add more detail.

Calderdale Energy Park is applying to construct 34 turbines on Walshaw Moor, between Hebden Bridge and Haworth – the village associated with Bronte tourism.

As a nine-week public consultation begins, chief executive Christian Egal told objectors that the development would provide “cheap, reliable and stable” energy.

Campaigners who oppose the plans for the West Yorkshire moorland said that the wind farm would turn the scenic area into an “industrial complex”.

It is worth reading the whole BBC article as it gives a lot of detail and if you are worried about this sort of development, you should visit.

I have some thoughts.

Saint Brieuc Wind Farm

This wind farm has a web site.

Christian Egal says this about this wind farm of the coast of Brittany in France.

“There are thousands of visitors every day taking a boat to visit the wind farm, it has been demonstrated that at similar sites the balance is not negative, there are lots of circumstances where wind farms attract a lot of interest.”

The developers should make the wind farm visitor-friendly.

Peat

I know that peat on these and other moors is a sensitive subject and this is said about it.

Access roads will be built over the moor but Egal said: “We avoid deep peat, each turbine is located where the peat is shallow and any peat that is removed will be reinstated locally so the net balance will be zero loss of peat.

That looks to be the right attitude!

Will There Be A Battery?

This Google Map shows Haworth.

Note.

  1. Haworth is outlined in red.
  2. There appears to be something like a quarry on the Eastern edge of the map.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a suitable space for on of the new technology batteries can be found.

Rheenergise is one company that comes to mind.

 

April 8, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Environment | , , , , , | Leave a comment

SSE’s Littleton Solar Farm Enters Full Operation

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from SSE.

This is the sub-heading.

Completed 31MW solar farm can power 10,000 UK homes annually

These four paragraphs add more details about the solar farm.

SSE’s 31MW Littleton Solar Farm near Evesham, Worcestershire has now entered full operation following a two-year construction delivery programme.

The newly completed solar farm can now generate enough clean electricity to typically power around 10,000 homes per year.

Its delivery marks another important contribution by SSE towards the delivery of homegrown, affordable, and secure clean energy to UK consumers.

The completion of Littleton marks the delivery of SSE’s first operational solar farm asset. Construction began in December 2023 and was delivered in partnership with Grupotec which acted as main contractor for the project.

This further paragraph talks about enhancing biodiversity.

Littleton Solar Farm has incorporated a wide range of measures across its 77 acre site to protect and enhance local biodiversity. These include maintaining existing hedgerows, planting new trees and hedgerows with locally sourced species, and establishing wildflower margins to support pollinators.

One of the reasons, I wrote about Littleton solar farm is that it is a detailed press release with an excellent aerial photo.

  • It generates 31 MW.
  • It covers 77 acres.
  • It can power 10,000 UK homes annually.
  • It took two years to build.
  • Grupotec were the main contractor.

Everything is there to give a rough estimate for a solar field.

 

April 1, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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, Energy Storage | , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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