RheEnergise, a UK-based company, is developing a new and advanced form of long-duration hydro-energy storage system. They plan to build the first-of-a-kind demonstrator of the system at Sibelco’s mining operations at Cornwood, near Plymouth. Construction of the demonstrator will start soon, and it is expected to be commissioned by September.
The HD Hydro demonstrator will generate up to 500kW of energy, which will be used to support Sibelco’s mining operations during high energy demand and help to decarbonise its operations. This project is supported by the UK Government’s Longer Duration Energy Storage (LODES) Demonstration Programme and Devon County Council.
The need for long-duration energy storage technologies, such as RheEnergise’s HD Hydro system, is widely recognized by experts in the global energy industry. These technologies are considered crucial for the energy transition, the security and evolution of a country’s energy system, and the growth of renewable power generation on a global scale.
“Sibelco is looking at new ways to manage and secure its future energy needs and at the same time decarbonize its operations, and so we are excited about the potential contribution that RheEnergise’s hydro storage project can make to our operations,” Ben Uphill, Director Operations at Sibelco said. “We are keen to adopt green technologies as part of an overall effort to reduce our carbon footprint, so we are delighted to be working with the RheEnergise team on this world-first.”
Stephen Crosher, Chief Executive of RheEnergise said, “We are hugely appreciative of the support and assistance given to us by Sibelco, DESNZ and Devon County Council. Our scheme will help Sibelco’s energy security at Cornwood and show the long-term contribution it can make to the company’s Net Zero ambitions.”
“The demonstrator is a trailblazing project for the LDES sector and will place us in a strong position to build commercial-scale projects in this country and overseas. We have a global interest in our technology, from as far as Australia and Chile. We would like to have our first 10MW grid-scale project in operation within two years.”
RheEnergise has revolutionized the energy storage system with its High-Density Hydro technology. Unlike conventional hydro-power systems that use water, RheEnergise’s solution uses a fluid that is 2½ times denser than water, enabling it to provide 2½ times more energy. This innovative approach not only offers a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution but also has a minimal environmental impact.
