Minister visits PNDC on completion of groundbreaking energy storage technology testing

The Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, today visits The Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) in Cumbernauld where a successful energy storage testing programme has been underway. This is a world first for a large scale modular manufactured Vanadium energy storage machine.

The six week testing programme has seen redT energy plc’s ground-breaking energy storage machine undergo rigorous testing. Following completion, redT’s energy storage machine will be shipped to the Isle of Gigha where it will be deployed as a 1.68MWh system on the island’s grid. The system is expected to manage grid constraints associated with four community owned wind turbines on the Island. The addition of redT’s energy storage machine is expected to enable as much as 30 per cent more power to be generated from these turbines.

redT is designing and manufacturing its ground breaking energy storage machines from its new design engineering base in Livingston. As the Company grows and certain performance standards are met, the plan is that up to 30 highly skilled jobs within the area will be created by 2019, this will be supported by a Regional Selective Assistance grant of £210,000 from Scottish Enterprise.

redT energy is pleased to have deployed the first ever large-scale vanadium energy storage machine into Scotland, with the unit also being the largest system the business has manufactured to date.

redT’s energy storage machine will now enter mass production in Scotland by its global manufacturing partner.

An overview of redT energy’s technology:

• redT makes large, industrial energy storage machines that provide customers and local communities with an efficient and sustainable way of storing electrical energy
• The patented technology has been developed over a period of 15 years – the 1.68MWh Isle of Gigha system is the largest energy storage unit redT has produced to date and consists of 7 x 15kW, 240kWh modules
• The machines use Vanadium Redox Flow Battery technology which is well suited for long duration, industrial scale energy storage

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said: ““Congratulations to redT for completion of their testing programme here at the Power Networks Development Centre (PDNC) in Cumbernauld. It has been very interesting to see, first-hand, the energy storage technology involved in redT’s Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) prior to its deployment on the grid at the Isle of Gigha.

"Energy storage, such as this battery solution, alongside established technologies such as pumped hydro storage, will be crucial as we move towards a more flexible, secure, and low carbon energy system. Our support for the company will allow it to continue to develop this important battery technology in its newly opened development, engineering and customer administration facility in Livingston, and with future success in mind, I am delighted redT plan to create up to 30 highly skilled jobs there by 2019.””

Scott McGregor, CEO, redT energy: “We chose Scotland to be our manufacturing and design centre for a number of reasons. Primarily, our energy storage machines are commercial assets, which are known for their long life and robustness. We therefore made the decision to base our manufacturing and design centre in Scotland due to the high quality of the Scottish workforce, Scotland’s excellent shipping links to the rest of the world and the support available from the Scottish Government and bodies such as Scottish Enterprise.”

Maggie McGinlay, Sector Portfolio Director for Energy and Clean Technologies, said: “Energy Storage is increasing in importance in the UK but also worldwide. I’m delighted to welcome this inward investment from redT reflecting the skills and expertise in Scotland for technology development and manufacturing within this growth industry.”

David Rutherford, CEO, Power Networks Demonstration Centre, said: “Storage offers the potential to smooth out the fluctuations of renewable energy electricity production. Flow batteries like the one being demonstrated by redT provide some unique characteristics for the evolving market place. In half a decade these technologies will be embedded features of our energy market.”

redT are the only pure-play energy storage company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market. This is an exciting time for the energy storage industry, which is expected to grow exponentially in the near future, with the on-grid energy storage market estimated to be worth $150bn, according to a report by Goldman Sachs. A recent study by The Carbon Trust also outlined significant cost savings for the UK electricity system, should the potential for energy storage be realised. The impact of which could deliver system wide saving of up to £2.4bn a year by 2030.

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Background:

The Power Networks Demonstration Centre is a venture between the University of Strathclyde, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy aimed at accelerating the adoption of novel research and technologies into the electricity industry.