A new scheme, known as the Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage (Ultra-LDES) Challenge, has been launched to encourage tech companies to develop long-term clean energy storage solutions.
Backed by £28 million from government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), innovators will be asked to bid for financial support for projects that will supply at least 100 hours worth of energy to homes and businesses.
The launch is the final part of the £102m Clean Energy challenge which was created to help develop new technologies that maximise electricity when it's at its cheapest, and focus on renewable energy to help reduce our reliance on gas and the National Grid.
How will the challenge work?
There are two main areas of focus to the challenge, both designed to find alternative and cleaner ways to power homes and business. Although wind and solar power are currently the main sources of renewable energy in the UK, they are dependent on the right weather conditions.
Solar in particular, which could power homes for longer – even more so following the recent summer of heatwaves – isn't able to do so due to the current limitations on solar battery sizes.
The challenge will therefore ask companies to bid for projects that focus on two things: larger batteries that could store enough clean energy to power a home or business for up to four days at a time, and systems which store hydrogen underground and release it when needed.
How will this benefit homeowners?
As well as helping with the global problem of tackling climate change, closer to home it's believed that developing new clean energy storage will offer homeowners far greater protection against the rising energy bills we have seen in recent years.
Providing access to better storage and alternative forms of energy, doesn't just mean our reliance on the National Grid will be reduced either. It will also offer greater energy security in a world where fuel has become a currency of war.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: "Homegrown clean energy is our route to more affordable bills and energy security and storing it for when we need it most is critical.
"By backing new cutting-edge battery technology and hydrogen storage with this £28 million grant, we will store more clean power, reduce reliance on expensive gas generation and deliver a more secure energy system."
And, although the projects will take some time to develop and deliver, the government estimates that being able to store hydrogen underground and release it when needed, "holds the potential to reduce total energy system costs by between £14 billion and £50 billion between 2035 and 2050."
What do energy experts think?
Homebuilding & Renovating's energy expert, David Hilton welcomed the news, telling us: "Energy storage has long been the golden goose for future energy solutions. We can now generate clean energy in many different ways but we cannot yet do it in ways that match our energy demand.
"Long term, efficient, storage solutions will unlock the potential to generate and harness energy when it is available, and use it when we need it. Exploring solutions that go beyond today's battery products (which have their own embodied issues) and massively supporting the development of innovative, clean and sustainable energy storage solutions – whether that be hydrogen, super capacitors, new battery technology, or something we have not even thought of yet – is in my opinion, a proactive and positive leap in the right direction."
A competition will run alongside the challenge
As part of the challenge, a UKRI competition will also run offering up to £3 million to fund further studies into the development of electrochemical ultra-long duration energy storage technologies.
According to the government: "The launch also comes as Ofgem consults on plans to support 16 long duration electricity storage projects, unlocking investment in the first new pumped storage hydropower projects in more than 40 years and helping build a more secure, homegrown energy system."
