Latest news with #LAES
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
European energy giant to build hydrogen facility in Scotland
Statkraft, Europe's largest generator of renewable energy, has proposed the development of a green hydrogen facility at Hunterston, the former coal terminal in Ayrshire. Clydeport – part of Peel Ports Group, the UK's second largest port operator – has exchanged an option agreement with Statkraft to explore the potential development at its Hunterston PARC (Port and Resource Campus) site. The proposed facility would be used for the production, storage and export of hydrogen. Linked to the existing jetty at the site via pipeline, it will allow hydrogen to be exported from the UK on vessels in the form of ammonia. Lewis McIntyre, managing director - port services at Peel Ports Group, said: 'This is a very exciting new development for Hunterston – hydrogen is vital to the energy transition, and we're proud to play our part in making such a development possible here on the west coast of Scotland. 'It is testament to Hunterston's vast potential to house a range of innovative renewables projects. Not only are we bringing a brownfield site back into economic use, it will contribute massively to inward investment and job creation in a region that desperately needs it.' Stuart Marley, Statkraft's principal hydrogen project manager, said: 'Hunterston is an ideal home for this facility, given its location and outstanding infrastructure. Hydrogen is an important tool in addressing the emissions from carbon-intensive industries, and we look forward to progressing our plans for the site.' There are several renewables projects at advanced stages at Hunterston, including XLCC's UK-first undersea energy cable factory, Highview Power's world's largest Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) facility, and Bakkafrost's onshore aquaculture facility. Peel Ports Group has been granted planning permission for the £150m redevelopment of the site's marine yard, which it intends will house a facility to support offshore wind developments. Although it is currently in talks with several developers already the company is open to proposals for alternative uses for the marine yard. Talks are under way with several more potential customers, with the entire Hunterston site said to be on track to generate £3.5 billion in inward investment and create over 5,000 jobs.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers make incredible energy breakthrough using 'liquid air': 'We believe our findings justify the continued exploration'
Renewable energy sources, like solar and wind, provide alternatives to dirty energy, and their increased use has sparked research. One team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Norwegian University of Science and Technology researched a method for storing renewable energy called liquid air energy storage (LAES), Tech Xplore reported. The team studied the technology and its economic viability, discovering it is efficient and cost-effective. This discovery proves promising since the use of renewable energy is rising. Renewables produced about 21% of the electricity in the U.S. in 2023, while nearly 90% of new electricity capacity came from renewables in the first nine months of 2024. Solar was the fastest-growing source of electricity in the U.S. last year, and wind power surpassed coal power. However, electricity generation from resources like solar or wind depends on how sunny or windy it is, Tech Xplore explained. Storing these resources when they're abundant enables us to use them when they're not, and energy storage is critical to transition to renewable energy and away from dirty energy. That's where LAES comes into play. LAES works by charging, storing, and discharging energy, according to Tech Xplore. The LAES system charges when energy supply exceeds demand, and the system intakes and liquefies air. This liquefied air is stored until needed, then it is heated back into a gas, which produces electricity. The system completes this process without additional energy, making it clean. It also does not rely on rare or expensive materials and can be built almost anywhere, Tech Xplore stated. Since it utilizes available materials, constructing the LAES system is cost-effective. The researchers also studied the economic viability of operating the system, measuring its net present value across 18 U.S. regions under eight decarbonization scenarios. They found Texas and Florida to be the best markets for the system under all scenarios, while subsidies for the system improved its NPV across all regions. The researchers also measured the levelized cost of storage — the cost of storing each unit of energy — discovering that LAES cost about $60 per megawatt-hour regardless of decarbonization scenario. This cost makes LAES more affordable than other energy storage systems, such as lithium-ion battery storage or pumped hydro storage. While LAES is technologically feasible, its economic feasibility will determine its future. The team of researchers stressed the need for further development of the technology amidst the shifting energy landscape. "This is why the story of liquid air storage is far from over. We believe our findings justify the continued exploration of LAES as a key energy storage solution for the future," MIT doctoral candidate and researcher Shaylin Cetegen said. Should the government be paying us to upgrade our homes? Definitely Depends on how much it costs Depends on what it's for No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
