Highview Power is to construct the UK’s first commercial-scale cryogenic energy storage or liquid air facility at the site of a decommissioned thermal power station in northern England.
The 50MW plant uses liquid air as the storage medium and will be the first of a portfolio of projects that the company is planning in the UK.
Highview Power said it is currently in the process of securing more sites.
A pilot project using the company’s CryoBattery technology was set up in Slough and a demonstration plant has been operating in Pilsworth, Manchester, since early 2018.
Highview said the battery can store energy for weeks, instead of hours or days, and at price of approximately £110 a megawatt-hour.
Highview chief executive Javier Cavada said: “We are excited to begin working on our first commercial UK project at scale to become the largest battery storage system in Europe and support the National Grid.
“This CryoBattery plant will provide the critical services needed to help maintain a stable and reliable grid.
“Long-duration, giga-scale energy storage is the necessary foundation to enable baseload renewable energy and will be key to a 100% carbon free future.”