The Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage Challenge has been launched, offering grants which support the development of new tech focused on energy storage, including advanced batteries and underground hydrogen storage.

Backed by £28m from Government through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), UK innovators can now bid for funding to develop projects capable of supplying clean electricity from storage.

The challenge will have two main areas of focus, the first will be on the development of new battery technologies capable of providing energy for over 100 hours; as yet these electrochemical technologies are yet to be commercialised at scale.

The second will support the development and testing of systems which store hydrogen underground and release it when needed.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Homegrown clean energy is our route to more affordable bills and energy security and storing it for when we need it most is critical.”

As part of the Ultra-LDES Challenge, UKRI has also launched a competition offering up to £3m to fund studies into electrochemical ultra-long duration energy storage technologies. This launch completes the roll out of the £102m clean energy challenges, which includes the Ultra-LDES challenge and the £74m consumer-led flexibility challenge. In turn, this is a part of the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme that will see at least £500m invested by 2030 into the research and development to tackle the major problems our society and economy face.

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