42 Technology has played a key role in helping RheEnergise successfully launch its high-density hydro energy-storage project in Devon this week.
The 500 kW system, built on a hillside at Cornwood, near Plymouth, is RheEnergise’s first real-world test site for its long-duration energy-storage (LDES) solution and is now producing full power as designed and predicted.
The system combines the principles of pumped hydro with a proprietary high-density working fluid to deliver long-duration storage in locations where traditional hydro schemes are not feasible. The successful operation of the project is the trigger for RheEnergise and its customers to develop, finance and build commercial-scale projects in the UK and overseas.
42T has worked with RheEnergise’s engineering teams in UK and Canada to design and develop a semi-automated processing plant to manufacture the high-density, environmentally-friendly working fluid at the heart of the system. The plant has successfully proven the principle of fluid production at scale and has been used to prepare consistent, high-quality batches for transfer into the main storage reservoir.
The project also further strengthens 42T’s expertise in helping develop next-generation technologies for a more sustainable, renewables-driven energy system.
42T’s role included initial planning and risk-reduction, detailed system design, process automation, and full programming of the control system to automatically manage all the valves, pumps and fluid production processes. The company also supported RheEnergise during the equipment build phase, which was delivered by one of RheEnergise’s existing contractors.
“Our work with RheEnergise has been a great example of engineering innovation with real potential to change the world for the better. It’s exciting to see their first ever high-density hydro project is now producing full power, at the predicted output and on a consistent basis. And for our engineering team to have played a critical part in getting it there.”
The first-of-a-kind system demonstrator is a major milestone for RheEnergise as it continues developing a new form of LDES that offers the benefits of pumped hydro but with much more flexibility on where it can be installed.
RheEnergise’s working fluid is 2.5 times denser than water, which means its storage plants require significantly smaller height differences between their upper and lower reservoirs. This enables installations on hills rather than mountains, and opens the door to faster, more scalable and cost-effective deployment.
“Commissioning our 500 kW demonstrator is a major step in proving our unique approach as a practical LDES solution. 42 Technology’s process design and automation experience has been vital in getting us to this point, and validating our fluid-production method under real-world conditions. As grids move towards 100% renewables, dependable long-duration storage like this will be essential.”
