Capula to Deliver Control System for Highview Power's LAES Technology to Revolutionise UK Energy Storage
Capula is delighted to announce its selection by Highview Power to deliver a control solution for the UK’s first commercial-scale Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) facility.
This ground-breaking long duration energy storage (LDES) solution will help to accelerate the UK's transition away from polluting fossil fuels by storing the energy generated by intermittent renewable sources when demand is low and dispatching this when demand is high, enhancing the flexibility of renewable sources, supporting grid stability & resilience, and reducing the UK’s dependence on energy imports.
The flagship pilot project, a 50MW/300MWh plant located in Carrington, near Manchester, UK, will provide enough clean, renewable energy to serve the needs of 480,000 homes, as well as providing essential grid stabilisation services. This project will pave the way for a number of additional larger scale facilities planned for key locations in the UK. These will serve as an important component of the UK Government’s LDES strategy to achieve a net-zero grid, in addition to supporting the UK economy with thousands of new jobs in construction & the wider supply chain.
Capula has been selected to deliver a Siemens PCS7 control solution which will seamlessly integrate the plant's control system infrastructure into a unified, cyber-secure platform. This will enable a single operator to manage the entire site from a central control location, analysing plant performance and asset health, and taking action where required to optimise operational efficiency, while providing an independent safety capability for emergency situations.
Commenting on the project, Alex Staines, Capula’s Energy Business Unit Director, said: “As a Siemens Partner with over 50 years’ experience developing control, protection and safety systems for critical national infrastructure applications, we are uniquely positioned to support Highview Power with this inspiring project, which promises to revolutionise sustainable energy technologies, and help position the UK as a global leader in the energy storage industry.”
“We are delighted to be working with Capula on this vital project, which marks a major milestone in the UK’s journey towards a net-zero energy system”, said John Goldie, UK Programme Director, Highview. “Their expertise in delivering robust, intelligent control systems will play a vital role in ensuring a safe and reliable operation at our Carrington facility. Together, we are laying the foundations for a new era of LDES across the UK and beyond”.
