UK independent power station developer Carlton Power and energy storage provider Highview Power have signed an agreement to build and operate the “world’s first” commercial liquid air storage system.
As part of the agreement, the two companies have created a joint-venture company, named Carlton Highview Storage, through which they will build the largest battery storage system of its kind in Europe.
The partnership announced today, will see the Carlton Power and Highview Power will build a 250MWg system, known as the CRYOBattery™, at the Trafford Energy Park, UK, and co-develop up to four further CRYOBattery™ projects in the UK, totalling over 1GWh.
A £10m grant from the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will support the development of the Trafford project.
“We looked at a variety of energy storage technologies for utility-scale, long-duration services, and selected Highview’s liquid air energy storage because it is scalable, clean, can deliver the grid services we need, and can be deployed now,” said Keith Clarke, Chief Executive of Carlton Power.
The CRYOBattery™ will supply clean, reliable and cost-efficient long-duration energy storage to the National Grid. It will also provide valuable grid services to help integrate renewable energy, stabilise the regional electrical grid, and ensure future energy security.
“We are excited to team up with Carlton Power for our first large-scale commercial UK project,” said Javier Cavada, President and CEO of Highview Power.
“They have an impressive track record of deploying grid-scale energy projects in the UK and their commitment to developing multiple projects with us speaks volumes about their confidence in our technology.”
“We are on a fast-track to develop our cryogenic energy storage systems around the global and this partnership will help to accelerate momentum in the European markets.”
Also commenting on the announcement, BEIS Energy and Clean Growth Minister Kwasi Kwarteng MP, said, “This revolutionary new CRYOBattery facility will form a key part in our push towards net zero, bringing greater flexibility to Britain’s electricity grid and creating green collar jobs in Greater Manchester.”
Construction of the CRYOBattery™ Trafford Energy Park scheme is expected to start later this year and enter commercial operation in 2022.
