International law firm Gowling WLG has been advising Highview Power as developer on the development of Europe's largest liquid air battery project, to be built at Carrington near Manchester.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has just announced that it will make a £10 million grant available to help construct the battery.
The firm's Energy team is advising Carlton Highview Storage - a joint venture between Highview Power and UK independent power station developer Carlton Power - which is set to build the world's first commercial liquid air storage system.
The 50MW/250MWh CRYOBattery site, to be built in the Greater Manchester area, will provide long duration storage for the National Grid. The revolutionary system will be able to power around 200,000 homes for 5+ hours a day, playing a key role in the UK's push towards net zero.
The system cools and compresses air so that it becomes liquid and can be stored in industrial containers. This can then be fed through a turbine to turn it and generate electricity when needed.
Gowling WLG is advising Highview Power on the deployment of the technology in other projects in the UK and mainland Europe.
Partner Andrew Newbery is the client partner for Highview Power.
Andrew Newbery commented: "The CRYOBattery will bring greater flexibility to the UK's energy grid helping to better harness the green energy generated by UK renewables. The technology will provide longer energy storage compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. As rolled-out, it will also help to solve National Grid stability issues that have been exacerbated in recent years through the retirement of certain conventional baseload generation in favour of clean but interruptible renewable energy supplies."
Gowling WLG continues its renewables work for BEIS with this latest deal, having recently supported in the department's partnership with fund management company CCLA, to establish a new £40 million Clean Growth Fund aiming to invest in the country's most promising early stage clean growth ventures.
The advisory also builds on a standout year for the Energy team, working on several mandates including advising Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust on its IPO, which raised £350 million, advising Svea Renewable Solar AB on the acquisition of Solarcentury's European residential solar installation business, and advising Co-op Energy on its new strategic partnership with Octopus Energy. It also follows the team's recognition for its leading energy and renewables practice in The Times Best Law Firms 2020.
Gowling WLG's sector-focused Energy and Projects group offers clients pro-active, commercially-focused and innovative solutions - wherever they are in the world. Their extensive UK and international client base includes governments and regulators, developers, financial institutions, generators, network operators and energy suppliers and traders.