The UK government is investing £30 million to develop technology that can capture and store renewable energy for longer.

Due to the nature of renewable energy, windy and sunny days can result in more energy being generated than is needed. The government said that if this energy can be stored, it can be supplied to consumers at a lower cost and improve energy security.

Projects receiving funding include Edinburgh-based Synchrostor, which will build a pumped thermal energy storage plant connected to the grid and Cheesecake Energy, a Nottingham-based firm which stores electricity using a combination of thermal and compressed air energy.

The government said businesess in the UK benefitting from the funding will boost the country’s energy security and independence.

Commenting on the news, Graham Stuart, minister for energy security and net zero, said: “Storing energy for longer periods is vital to build a robust and secure energy system and ensure that renewable energy is used efficiently. Fortunately the UK has a wealth of pioneering businesses that are making their mark on this industry.”

This follows the news that the UK government is awarding businesses £12.4 million to clean up industrial processes and improve energy efficiency. The funding will be split between 22 businesses and is part of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), which has awarded grants to British projects across the country to increase the energy efficiency of their industrial processes.

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