Articles by Scott Reid

Business

£130m secured for energy storage ‘stability island’ to bolster Scotland’s grid resilience

Scotland’s grid resilience is set for a boost after an ambitious energy storage project secured £130 million in “milestone” funding. Infrastructure business Highview has received the funding to commence work on the first stage of its planned hybrid long-duration storage system at Hunterston, Ayrshire. It brings the total raised to commercialise and roll out the technology to more than £500m. The £130m investment round, involving the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB), Scottish Gas-owner Centrica, and investors including Goldman Sachs, Kirkbi and Mosaic Capital, will fund construction of the first phase of the Hunterston project - a so-called “stability island”, which will provide system support to the electricity grid. The island can operate independently of the project’s energy storage elements and will deliver critical inertia, short circuit and voltage support to the UK’s power grid. As well as the stability island, the facility at Hunterston will eventually incorporate a hybrid long duration energy storage system, combining both liquid air storage and lithium-ion batteries for greater operational performance. The stability island is expected to be operational by January 2028, while the full facility is projected to be up and running by 2030. Richard Butland, chief executive at Highview, said: “This capital raise is an important milestone for Highview, enabling us to build out the first phase of our long duration energy facility at Hunterston. By delivering much-needed grid services in this location, our stability island asset will prevent costly curtailment and maximise the renewable energy that we generate in the UK. “Through the delivery of this phase and building on the lessons learned at our Carrington facility, we are also developing and strengthening our UK supply chain. This in turn supports future Highview projects, as well as the UK’s wider green economy, driving skills development, job creation, and economic growth across the country.” Mark Munro, chief investment officer at the Scottish National Investment Bank, said: “Wind production curtailment and intermittency continue to be challenges across the supply chain. As Scotland scales its renewable energy production, it’s critical that grid resilience is fortified so that more of it can be used. “Working in partnership with Highview, our investment in the development of this exciting project will deliver vital infrastructure to help ensure a more stable, clean energy future.” Chris O’Shea, group chief executive at Centrica, said: “Low carbon storage is an essential part of the solution for how we manage the energy system of the future, and Highview’s long duration energy storage system is the kind of innovative facility that is needed as the UK transitions to a more intermittent energy mix from renewables. “Hunterston’s grid and analytics services will also enable the UK grid operator to better balance supply and demand challenges and help ensure our customers have electricity available when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. “We’re proud to strengthen our partnership with Highview as an investor as well as continuing to share our expertise on the energy transition and power storage,” he added. Why these behemoth renewable energy batteries in Scotland are just next stage in eyesore power infrastructure