Our approach
A range of flexible technologies are required to help ensure a consistent and stable energy supply while the UK power system looks to decarbonise by 2030.
The issue
Solar and wind are intermittent power sources
Climate and seasonal variations affect generation and demand causing an excess or shortfall of available energy.
The solution
Our range of technologies store the excess to cover shortfall
Meeting demand is a complex problem and flexible solutions are needed to balance the UK’s energy supply for different periods of time.
Technologies
Short duration
Battery storage
Batteries are ideally-suited for short duration energy storage. Now well-established, battery storage is providing a cost-effective, fast and reliable way of supplying electricity to the grid for periods of up to four hours.
Mid duration
Pumped hydro
Pumped hydro-electric storage is a proven zero carbon technology for medium-duration energy storage. Although its expansion is limited by geography, it represents a significant source of the UK’s storage capacity.
Long duration
Hydrogen & flexible generation
Green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy. The hydrogen can then be stored before being used to run low carbon flexible thermal generation plant which is crucial for balancing the grid and reaching net zero.
Services
These technologies provide a range of energy network services, which enable further flexibility in the energy system, supporting the decarbonisation of the UK’s electricity supply.