A North Yorkshire power company has secured £250,000 in Government funding after developing a solution for storing renewable energy.
Richmond business Sherwood Power aims to use the funds to pilot its technology with a leading supermarket, in which the partnership will explore power possibilities for fresh food transportation. The company has been awarded the funding as part of the Government’s Industrial Fuel Switching Programme Phase 1.
Alex Hunter, CEO of Sherwood Power, said the main purpose of the partnership is to examine the feasibility of electrifying auxiliary power on refrigerated vehicles, which are typically used to transport fresh produce. Currently, when at a distribution centre, trailer refrigeration units run on diesel during loading and unloading. Sherwood Power will provide electric docking stations, which will mean trailers can be plugged into the building’s electricity to cool the produce instead.
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The additional electricity capacity needed to chill the fresh produce will be met by installing on-site renewable energy generation and electrical energy storage. The project aims to reduce carbon emissions at the distribution centre, improve air quality and lower costs for the retailer.
Mr Hunter said: “A lot has been said already about the need for UK businesses to meet net zero targets, but there are significant challenges in rapidly developing the infrastructure to let companies do so. The feasibility study we are running as part of the Industrial Fuel Switching Programme sees us addressing all three parts of this challenge.
“We are adapting the retailer’s existing on-site equipment, including installing new electric docking stations, to facilitate the switch from diesel to electricity. We are providing the additional electric power that will be required because of the switch by installing renewable energy generation.
“Finally, we are addressing fluctuations in demand for electricity, for example, when there are more delivery vehicles charging, by installing our energy storage solution.”
Sherwood Power has developed patented technology - the Free Air Battery (FAB) - that can store excess wind and solar electricity as compressed air, releasing it during expensive periods to reduce the cost of electricity for the business, and generate revenue.
The company was also recently accepted onto the Climate Innovation Platform (CIP), managed by the University of Birmingham in partnership with the Energy Systems Catapult. The CIP will help 13 companies across the country research, test and grow their energy technologies.
Mr Hunter added: “Developing new energy technologies and services is vital if the UK is going to meet the Government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050. Working with specialists through the Climate Innovation Platform will mean we are able to support more businesses to lower energy costs by switching to on-site renewable energy.”
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