The consortium is a pan-European team, led by London South Bank University’s School of The Built Environment and Architecture. The team will investigate the potential of a promising new technology – cryogenic energy storage (CES) – to solve the problem of how to store excess renewable energy. The intention is to use cheap, off-peak electricity to convert air into a liquid, which can then be stored over a long period of time in a storage vessel. Turning the liquid back to gas, by removing it from the store and applying heat to it, will produce a huge increase in volume and pressure – enough to power a turbine to generate electricity which can then be supplied back to the grid.
TPG’s initial involvement in the project over the 2016/17 financial years is estimated to be circa €0.5m for the integration of its turboexpander technology. The technology is already used in other commercial systems, and this project will see the Group work to tailor the turboexpander specifically to meet the needs of the CES architecture.
In addition to the primary development, it is also anticipated that TPG’s engineering facility in Greater Manchester may be positioned to provide additional thermal engineering and fabrication support to the programme going forward.
Phil Cartmell, group chief executive, commented: " I believe that TPG’s involvement in the project is testament to our growing reputation at the forefront of renewable energy developments, opens up new application opportunities and positions the Group to benefit from the commercial markets that should emerge as a result.”
