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ETI Innovation Learnings - Energy Storage


Citation Colechin, M. ETI Innovation Learnings - Energy Storage, ETI, 2016. https://doi.org/10.5286/UKERC.EDC.000484.
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Author(s) Colechin, M.
Project partner(s) ETI
Publisher ETI
DOI https://doi.org/10.5286/UKERC.EDC.000484
Download Energy-Storage-Innovation-Learnings.pdf document type
Abstract The Energy Technologies Institute invested in Isentropic, an innovative UK SME set up to develop and demonstrate a cost-effective energy storage device that uses heated gravel as the energy storage medium as opposed to the more common but expensive battery based technologies.

This report summarises the main conclusions and outcomes of the project including the finding that it has potential for delivering innovative energy storage solutions. However, technical capability alone is insufficient to deliver innovative products to a commercial market which is still emerging. The current regulatory environment is failing to incentivise technologies that are not needed in the current energy system but have been clearly identified as crucial components of a future system.

Isentropic was one of many start-ups with a product with the technical potential to meet UK distributed storage needs but, like many others, they did not succeed in turning their innovative solution into a commercial product before the company ran out of funds – even with support from the ETI. They were faced with the major challenge of raising commercial funding for a research and development based proposition where market prospects for early returns were unclear. Developing other market opportunities may seem like an obvious approach to mitigate this risk but in itself brings the need to raise still more capital.

Following Isentropic’s administration, the ETI has invested further to ensure this promising technology is not lost. A new collaboration with a UK university is allowing the storage system development to complete but without the pressures of raising immediate commercial funding.
Associated Project(s) ETI-EN2013: Heat Infrastructure Development (HID)
Associated Dataset(s) No associated datasets
Associated Publication(s)

Evolution of our Energy System - Presentation

Heat Infrastructure Development Project - Reducing the capital cost of district heat network infrastructure - Routes to implement innovative solutions - Summary Report

Heat Infrastructure Development Project - Request for Proposal

Heat Infrastructure Development Project - Requirements, Baseline Analysis and Target Setting - September 2017 version

Heat Infrastructure Development Project - Solution Development, Analysis and Selection Report

Heat Infrastructure Development Project - Solution Development, Analysis and Selection Report

Heat Infrastructure Development Project - Solution Route Maps Report

Multi-Vector Integration - Presentation

Transitioning to a low carbon energy system: network challenges - Presentation

UK Energy Networks - Transition Challenges - Presentation