Highview has secured GBP 130 million in funding to commence the first stage of its planned 3.2GWh hybrid long-duration energy storage solution at Hunterston, Scotland. The investment brings Highview's total financing raised to commercialize and roll out its long-duration storage solutions to GBP 500 million.

Investment Partners and Funding Details

The latest investment round involves the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB), British multinational energy and services company Centrica, and additional investors including Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI, and Mosaic Capital. The funding will support construction of the first phase of the Hunterston project, described as a “stability island” that will provide system support to the electricity grid.

The stability island represents a key component of Highview's LDES system and can operate independently of the energy storage elements. It will deliver critical inertia, short-circuit, and voltage support to the UK power grid at a location facing significant stability challenges. This support will enable greater power transmission from generation points in Scotland to areas of high demand, preventing wind energy curtailment across Scotland.

Project Development and Timeline

The Hunterston facility launches the deployment of Highview's Millennium Series of 3.2GWh hybrid long-duration energy storage facilities, which will include additional plants across the UK. These developments follow a 300MWh liquid air energy storage facility currently under construction at Carrington in Manchester. The Carrington facility's first phase, also a stability island, is expected to be operational by August 2026, while the LAES system is expected to be operational by 2027.

The complete Hunterston facility will eventually incorporate a hybrid long-duration energy storage system that combines liquid-air storage and lithium-ion batteries to enhance operational performance. This configuration will enable the entire facility to send more power to the grid for longer periods in a flexible manner, maximizing the asset's benefit to the system operator.

The facility will be located on the Peel Ports site in North Ayrshire. The stability island is expected to be operational by January 2028, while the full facility is expected to be operational by 2030.

Economic Impact and Employment

The project is expected to support 1,000 jobs onsite during construction and 650 jobs in the supply chain during the build-out of all phases. The facility will also incorporate a cutting-edge grid analytics function that delivers insight into current and future energy usage and grid activity. The energy storage element of the Hunterston facility received validation when it was named as an eligible project for Ofgem's Cap and Floor support scheme for long duration energy storage, along with a planned facility at Killingholme, Lincolnshire.

Industry Perspectives

Richard Butland, Chief Executive at Highview, described the capital raise as “an important milestone for Highview, enabling us to build out the first phase of our long duration energy facility at Hunterston.” He noted that the stability island asset will prevent costly curtailment and maximize renewable energy generation in the UK. Butland explained that, through the delivery of this phase and by building on lessons learned at the Carrington facility, the company is developing and strengthening its UK supply chain.

This supports future Highview projects and the UK's broader green economy, driving skills development, job creation, and economic growth across the country. Mark Munro, CIO at the Scottish National Investment Bank, highlighted that wind production curtailment and intermittency remain challenges across the supply chain. He emphasized that as Scotland scales up its renewable energy production, fortifying grid resilience is critical to enable greater use of renewable energy.

Chris O'Shea, Group Chief Executive at Centrica, stated that “Low carbon storage is an essential part of the solution for how we manage the energy system of the future, and Highview's LDES system is the kind of innovative facility that is needed as the UK transitions to a more intermittent energy mix from renewables.” O'Shea explained that Hunterston's grid and analytics services will enable the UK grid operator to better balance supply and demand challenges and help ensure customers have electricity available when wind and solar resources are unavailable.

He expressed pride in strengthening the partnership with Highview as an investor, while continuing to share expertise on the energy transition and power storage. The completed facility will deliver enough clean electricity to power around 650,000 homes for up to 12.5 hours, optimizing Scotland's offshore wind resources and releasing grid bottlenecks that currently curb renewable generation.

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