WORLD-leading technology that will be a key factor in the UK's drive to hit its Net Zero targets has been launched on Teesside.

National Grid and UK company Reactive Technologies has inaugurated the world’s largest grid-scale ultracapacitor at the Wilton International site. The unique piece of tech will help stabilise the energy coming on to the grid as the number of sources grows.

Renewable energy generation can be difficult to predict as weather changes and wind and solar assets fluctuate, so keeping the output to the grid stable requires ultrafast responses and real-time injections of electricity to match the fluctuations.

So the world’s largest continuously operating grid-scale ultracapacitor has been built here only a few miles up the coast from where the power cables of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank come onshore.This year has been transformational for Reactive, in which it also closed a record fundraising round from a group of global investors including the Bill Gates-backed clean energy fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BGP and Eaton. As an independent clean technology company, Reactive is well-poised to export its technology globally and support grids around the world in unlocking renewables growth and accelerating their transition to zero carbon energy systems.

Read more: Government chooses Teesside to lead green energy revolution

EO Marc Borrett said: “The commercial adoption of GridMetrix by National Grid is a significant milestone in the journey of our technology from a conceptual innovation to a proven and fundamental grid management solution.

"The challenges facing Britain on its net zero journey are familiar to grids across the world and with the support of our strategic investors and partners, we are extremely excited to help unlock as many 100% renewable grids around the world as possible, accelerating the global transition to a clean energy system.”

Fintan Slye, Executive Director of National Grid ESO, added: “Our ambition to be able to operate an electricity system that can deliver periods of 100% zero carbon power by 2025 is a stretching target, but thanks to cutting-edge technologies such as this we’re on track to achieve a significant milestone on that zero carbon journey.

"Decarbonising our grid brings many challenges, but through collaboration and innovation we’ll continue to develop solutions to overcome them and bring about the sustainable energy network we urgently need.”

National Grid ESO – a legally separate business within the National Grid group – sits at the heart of the electricity system in Great Britain, keeping the lights on around the clock for energy consumers.

It moves electricity around the country’s high-voltage network to balance supply and demand in real-time, using a mix of power sources to make sure electricity is available wherever and whenever it’s needed.

ESO’s mission is to enable a sustainable energy system and ensure the delivery of reliable energy. It works with stakeholders across the whole energy industry to plan for future network needs, using insight to make sure it can balance the system.

 

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