Energy storage has a vital role to play in decarbonising the electricity, heating and transport sectors. At the large scale, energy storage for the grid supports the transition from fossil fuels by enabling increased reliance on renewable energy sources (wind, wave, solar). At the medium scale, onboard storage is key to the electrification of the thriving transport sector. At the small scale, efficient portable storage devices reduce the energy cost of consumer electronics, while extending their off-grid usage. Energy storage is critical for our future energy security, acting as an energy reservoir, enhancing frequency regulation and balancing intermittent supplies with predictable demand, thereby enabling more efficient use of existing energy generation assets (wind and solar). Energy storage can also offer a number of economic benefits, including improving the economic viability of renewables, stabilising electricity markets and creating new revenue streams which exploit the unique value of storage.
Advocating energy storage Widespread deployment of energy storage in the UK will need concerted progress over the next 6-10 years in several areas, including cost reductions through cheaper materials and performance improvements, a market framework which recognises the value of energy storage and integration with the large-scale deployment of renewable generation. The Hub informs the agenda for UK energy storage activities, through development of a UK roadmap and a vision for energy storage research in the UK, stretching into the future while embracing energy policy. Core research undertaken within the Hub and through the award of flexible funding, will advance key areas of science and engineering within the UK academic community. The Hub thereby acts as an advocate for energy storage within the wider energy debate, while linking this to the international landscape, creating funding opportunities and impact in the sector. Growing UK CapabilityThe UK is traditionally considered to be a world leader in energy storage research. The Energy SUPERSTORE Hub brings together eleven highly experienced investigators with strong international and national reputations in energy storage research, not only in the technologies themselves, but spanning the entire value chain, from manufacturing, integration and evaluation of the whole energy system, including economics and policy. The consortium addresses a number of the critical barriers to the commercialisation of energy storage and its widespread exploitation in the UK and internationally. Members of the consortium cover areas in which the UK has both the scientific capability and an energy system need.The Energy SUPERSTORE Hub champions energy storage research within the UK and internationally via networks, publications, events, education and training, knowledge exchange, community building and stakeholder engagement. Through this extensive networking, including strong engagement with all stakeholders in industry, NGOs, learned societies and government, the Hub remains informed and informs others about the latest developments in energy storage, while integrating the energy storage community in the UK as a whole and engaging the public through wide dissemination. Through the strength of the Hub and its links, more effective pathways for the exploitation of new research and new ideas in commercial products can be explored.
From research to deployment The Energy SUPERSTORE Hub reaches out to other major programmes within the sector, such as the new capital funding for grid scale storage, to ensure that the academic community is best placed to take advantage of investments in the storage space, of benefit to all. The Hub thereby enables the demonstration of energy storage research, enhancing its role in the UK energy landscape. Linking the academic research base with industry supports areas of UK strength and national importance in energy storage, while ensuring effective and appropriate translation of research, to support wealth and job creation for UK plc.Education and trainingA range of education programmes in energy storage are available through the Hub. Professor Andrew Cruden is a member of the Hub and represents the CDT in Energy Storage and its Applications, run at the Universities of Sheffield and Southampton. The automotive industry’s Technical Accreditation Scheme is available to graduates as well and engineers and industrialists. The Hub maintains and enhances the high standard of competencies through continuing professional development of researchers. Focussed workshops are run by the Hub to develop expertise in both its core research programmes and in new areas for development.
Delivering economic growthNew development opportunities will arise from dialogues with our stakeholder partners, the invitation of international experts to participate in our events and through active participation in international programmes, such as the EPSRC UK-China and UK-India projects. Successful commercialisation will only be achieved through partnerships between industry, policy makers and the research community. The Hub is developing collaborative initiatives with other energy research centres, such as the SUPERGEN Hubs for Solar, Wind and Marine Energy, the H2FC SUPERGEN Hub and the Smart Grids SUPERGEN Hub. SUPERGEN Hub supportThe Energy SUPERSTORE Hub is funded by the Research Councils’ UK Energy Programme, led by EPSRC. The Energy Programme aims to position the UK to meet its energy and environmental targets and policy goals through world-class research and training, investing more than £625 million in research and skills to pioneer a low carbon future. This builds on an investment of £839 million over the past eight years, starting in December 2011.
