UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is to invest £28m in a new initiative to cut the UK’s reliance on more expensive sources of power.
The Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage (Ultra-LDES) challenge will offer grants to support the development of new tech focused on energy storage, including advanced batteries and underground hydrogen storage.
UK innovators can now bid for funding to develop projects capable of supplying clean electricity for 100 hours or more – enough to power UK homes and businesses for at least four days.
Currently, wind and solar are the cheapest ways to generate electricity in the UK. A lack of wind or sunlight, however, means they aren’t always available, with the grid then relying on a range of options to deliver power, including gas-fired generation.
The challenge will have two main areas of focus – the development of new battery technologies capable of providing energy for over 100 hours, and supporting the development and testing of systems that store hydrogen underground and release it when needed.
The government says reducing reliance on natural gas will also bolster the UK’s energy security. It says while the gas system will still play an important role for decades to come, improved energy storage will be a vital part of the transition to clean, homegrown energy that will shield the UK from the impacts of international supply chain issues.
“When we unlock the potential of science and innovation, it can improve all of our lives. That is what this challenge is all about; using the world class scientific expertise that we have in the UK to benefit people in every postcode,” says science minister Chris McDonald.
“Clean sources of power are vital to meeting our energy needs as a nation. If we can meet the challenge of storing energy from renewables, we will improve our energy security, bring down energy bills in the long-term, and leave all of us better off.”
