Orsted has teamed up with Highview Power to investigate how liquid air energy storage can deliver a stronger investment case for future offshore wind projects.
The two companies will carry out detailed technical analysis and an economic assessment during 2023 that will investigate the benefits of combining wind technology with liquid air energy storage.
In particular the study will look at how the combination of technologies can reduce the impact of wind curtailment, increase productivity and assist the move to a more flexible, resilient zero carbon grid.
According to Orsted, a lack of renewable energy storage during peak conditions this winter meant that the UK was unable to store as much as 1.35 TWh of wind energy. Over this period, the UK had to rely on £60 billion of gas.
Duncan Clark, Orsted managing director for offshore and country chair UK & Ireland, said: “We believe that energy storage will play a pivotal role in a world that runs entirely on green energy. Our collaboration with Highview Power is an important step in creating effective energy storage solutions that unlock greater value from next generation wind farms and support the evolution of our power grid.
“Together our technologies can be a catalyst to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy and help unlock the economic potential of that transition for the UK.”
Richard Butland, chief executive of Highview Power, added: “Our storage and stability technology, combined with Orsted’s wind technology, will play a critical role in creating a more sustainable and self-sufficient energy system for the UK.
“By unleashing the full potential of renewable energy and enabling it to be stored and used on-demand, this collaboration will help to accelerate the UK’s journey towards energy independence and net-zero emissions.”
Julian Leslie, ESO head of networks and chief engineer added: “The ESO has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning Great Britain’s electricity system to net zero.
“Longer duration storage can support a future energy system with high proportions of renewable energy by providing flexible energy supply and demand, and increasing the resilience of energy networks. Industry collaboration such as this is key to ensuring that we achieve enduring technical solutions that are fit for purpose but also maximise value to Britain’s electricity consumers.”
What is liquid air energy storage (LAES)?
Liquid air energy storage essentially works the same way as adiabatic CAES, except the air is not only compressed but refrigerated until it becomes a liquid.
Unlike pumped hydro or CAES, liquid air energy storage is not dependent on geography and can be built anywhere.
Highview opened a 5MW/15MWh demonstration project at Bury in Greater Manchester in 2018. The company is now developing its first commercial plant – a 50MW/250MWh facility – at Carrington on the other side of the city, which it expects to start operating in 2024.