Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration competition: apply for Stream 2 first-of-a-kind prototypes (contracts)

This competition aims to accelerate commercialisation of innovative longer duration energy storage projects through to actual demonstrations (Stream 1) or to first-of-a-kind (FOAK) full-system prototypes (Stream 2).

We are looking for proposals for electrical storage, thermal storage and power-to-x technologies which can provide novel grid services and demonstrate cost reductions and improvement in technology performance.

They should not include commercial solutions such as pumped hydro or lithium ion.

The competition has 2 Streams. See Stream 1 for pre-commercial demonstrator grants

Stream 2: Pre-commercial first-of-a-kind prototype proposals (contracts) - overview

Stream 2 of the competition is focused on pre-commercial FOAK prototype proposals.

To be in scope technologies must:

• not be commercially deployed in the UK or elsewhere
• be at technology readiness level (TRL) 4 or 5

£30.5 million of competition funding is available for Stream 2 and will be awarded using the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) contracts approach:

• a maximum of £1.5 million for Phase 1 feasibility studies, with a maximum value of £150,000 per project. We intend to fund around 12 projects in Phase 1
• £29 million is currently allotted to Phase 2 demonstration projects, with the maximum expected funding per project of £9.45 million. We intend to fund around 3 projects in Phase 2

Key dates

1. Information event

We are holding a competition event on 17 June 2021 to support applicants in developing their application. It will be of particular interest to:

• potential investors
• developers of longer-duration energy storage technologies
• prospective site owners
• end consumers

You can still submit an application if you don't attend this event.

2. Questions about the competition

If you have questions that aren't covered in the guidance here, please send them to [email protected] by 2pm on 7 July 2021. Questions submitted after this deadline may not be answered.

3. Registration 

You must register for the competition first, before submitting your application, by 2pm on 23 July 2021:

• register here

4. Submit proposals

The guidance here provides full details of how to apply.

Once you have registered you will receive a password which will allow you to submit your proposal.

The deadline to submit full proposals is 2pm on 13 August 2021.