Two “pioneering” Scottish firms are to share £20m of UK Government cash for “vital” work to boost energy security.
Invinity Energy Systems is to receive £11m to develop and manufacture the largest grid scale battery ever produced in the UK.
The company plans to build a seven megawatt, 30 megawatt hours vanadium flow battery at its factory in West Lothian.
Meanwhile SynchroStor, which is based in Edinburgh, will receive £9.4m to help it develop a pumped thermal energy storage (PTES) grid-connected demonstration plant at its Cumbernauld site.
The new facility should have the ability to charge, store and discharge energy for a period of 10 hours – longer than current battery technology.
With the move to renewable energy, storage is seen as being crucial in allowing excess power generated by technologies such as solar and wind to be held back and used when needed.
The £9.4m for SynchroStor comes in the wake of £32.8m of funding awarded to five UK energy storage prototype projects last November.
Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart said: “Storing energy for longer periods is vital to build a robust and secure energy system and ensure that renewable energy is used efficiently.
“Fortunately, pioneering businesses in Scotland like SynchroStor are making their mark on this industry.
“I’m delighted that Scotland’s PTES demonstrator project is receiving government backing to make it a reality – there is a lot of talent in our UK industries and it’s great to see them playing a role in the nation’s energy security.”
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