UK company RheEnergise is to build its first-of-a-kind long-duration hydro-energy storage system demonstrator at Sibelco’s mining operations at Cornwood, near Plymouth, England.
Work onsite to build the demonstrator will start imminently with its commissioning to start in September 2024.
The power generated by the HD Hydro demonstrator, which has a peak power production of 500kW, will support Sibelco’s mining operations at times of high energy demand and support the company’s work to decarbonise its operations.
The Cornwood site produces kaolin, mainly for sanitary ware, ceramics, tiles and industrial applications.
The project is being supported through the UK government’s Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration Programme, with back from Devon County Council, which has permitted the scheme.
“Sibelco is looking at new ways to manage and secure its future energy needs and at the same time decarbonise its operations, and so we are excited about the potential contribution that RheEnergise’s hydro storage project can make to our operations,” said the mining company’s operations director Ben Uphill.
“We are keen to adopt green technologies as part of an overall effort to reduce our carbon footprint, so we are delighted to be working with the RheEnergise team on this world-first.”
RheEnergise’s High-Density Hydrostorage system is low-cost, energy efficient and environmentally benign, it said.
Rather than using water, the company has developed a fluid, which is 2.5 times denser than water, and which can provide 2.5 times the energy when compared to a conventional low-density hydro-power.
“We are hugely appreciative of the support and assistance given to us by Sibelco, the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and Devon County Council,” said RheEnergise chief executive Stephen Crosher.
“Our scheme will help Sibelco’s energy security at Cornwood and show the long-term contribution it can make to the company’s Net Zero ambitions.”
“The demonstrator is a trailblazing project for the LDES sector and will place us in a strong position to build commercial-scale projects in this country and overseas.
“We have global interest in our technology, from as far as Australia and Chile. We would like to have our first 10MW grid-scale project in operation within two years.”