Power & Utilities
TES CAES
Adiabatic CAES, 62-70% efficient, 20MW to multi-GW size, 4+ hours duration. The world’s cleanest, most cost-effective transmission grid-scale electricity storage, suitable globally
Field of Expertise
Electricity systems; renewable energy; energy transition; energy storage; innovation; markets
Expertise
A keenly analytical understanding of the energy system in the UK and its energy transition strategy to the decarbonised economy targeted for 2050. An increasing understanding of the similar energy transition strategies of major EU economies (DE, FR, IT, ES, NL and, to a lesser extent, BE and DK – with the UK, 80% of the EU’s economy) and how they fail to mesh together which threatens either widespread black-outs in most countries or a failure to meet emissions obligations and objectives. A detailed awareness of the various renewable generation technologies (wind, solar, wave, tidal range, tidal flow, AD etc.) and grid balancing technologies (large-scale long-duration storage including PHES and CAES of various kinds, LAES, batteries, demand side response, synchronous condensers etc.), hydrogen, clean gas and interconnectors that enable renewables to power the economy. This awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of each enables a coherent vision of the mix of technologies required to power the economy at minimum cost and maximum energy security. A detailed understanding of regulatory priorities and strategies and the resultant electricity markets, how they are failing to control the costs of the energy transition and why the cost of energy will continue under current policies to rise inexorably: by 2017 overt and covert subsidies already cost the UK £2bn p.a., forecast to more than double within five years. An understanding of exactly why negligible grid-scale capital investment has been undertaken since privatisation without governmental support via specially created (and hence market distorting) instruments, and how to structure a market to incentivise such investment without any such subsidies or distortions; this market structure can also be used to incentivise low and zero carbon technologies and the construction of innovative first-of-a-kind commercial plants, all without subsidy or market distortion. A detailed understanding of grid contracts and revenue streams (including those which are not currently remunerated), and how to build profitable revenue stacks dependent on the capabilities of a technology. A highly innovative mind-set that develops and improves technologies based on both need and opportunity; an ability to project manage the development and implementation of innovation, an innovative approach to markets and how to use the technology to build profitable products and services based on innovative technologies, including innovation in services; product, business and corporate strategy and planning; organisation and systems / processes for optimal roll-out. A political, geographical and historical understanding of most countries and their economies.