The UK and UAE are leading the charge on pioneering next-gen energy storage solutions, with innovative projects aiming to overcome one of the biggest hurdles in transitioning to clean energy: efficiently storing renewable electricity. From the deserts of the UAE to a former coal plant site in Greater Manchester, new technologies are being trialled, moving beyond traditional constraints of lithium-ion batteries.
In Greater Manchester, Highview Power's Carrington "liquid air" cryobattery project is set to commence operations by 2026. The ambitious scheme, located at the Trafford green cluster, captures surplus renewable energy by cooling air to -196C, reducing it to a liquid state that can be stored for extended periods – from hours to weeks – until energy demand rises or renewable generation is low.
When needed, the liquid gasifies, expanding rapidly through a turbine to generate electricity without emissions. The project, which has faced delays, will deliver 300MWh of storage and an output of 50MW for six hours, enough power nearly half a million homes.
In the Nevada desert, the Crescent Dunes scheme – operational since the last decade – harnesses solar power to heat potassium and sodium nitrate to 560C. This molten salt can retain its temperature for up to ten hours after sunset, allowing stored thermal energy to be converted into electricity via a traditional spinning turbine.
These developments offer alternatives to conventional lithium-ion batteries, which face scrutiny over their reliance on critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Many of these alternative battery technologies boast indefinite charge/discharge cycles and are designed for recyclability at the end of their 20-year service life, reducing environmental concerns and impacts on vulnerable communities.
Globally, innovation varies dramatically: in the UAE, a massive clean energy project spanning an area equivalent to 12,600 football fields combines 5.2GW of solar power capacity with 19GWh of battery storage – making it the world's largest battery scheme, capable of powering half a million homes through the night.
Concurrently, researchers at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado are developing tiny batteries to power electronic tags for tracking young salmon and eel species, showcasing the versatility of next-generation energy storage solutions.