The University of Birmingham - Equipment Account

This proposal is to bid for capital support for the creation of a Centre for Cryogenic Energy Storage at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the University of Hull and a range of industrial partners. Such a Centre is essential for the accelerated development of a technology which can bring multiple energy system benefits and economic value to the UK. A pilot-plant has been shown to function as intended, but to be a viable technology for commercialisation, a research effort is needed to improve the efficiency of the system, to develop novel materials with lower costs and longer life-times, and to assess, model and simulate its dynamic performance characteristics as a grid-scale technology.
Investment in equipment and a specialist dedicated lab facility at Birmingham would create an internationally-renowned centre keeping the UK at the leading edge of cryogenic energy storage (CES) R&D. The Centre's approach will cover the full CES system, from materials to devices / components and applications, and critically to key aspects of systems integration, control and optimisation. The work of the Centre will transfer directly to full-demonstration through partnerships with industry. Bringing this focus on a viable technology gives it the best opportunity for success.
The University of Birmingham has grown an exceptionally strong research community around closely related topics with in excess of £20m research income across energy related areas over the last five years. The University is internationally renowned in the areas of hydrogen storage and applications, road and rail transport, and smart grid analysis drawing on the disciplines of materials science, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical & process engineering, and electrical engineering. With the arrival of a new Professor with an international reputation in energy storage, the University will build on its existing capability to deliver a world-leading CES centre which can pave the way for industry in the UK.

Impact summary
The most important impact from the proposed investment in equipment will be to advance key out-reaching themes in the College of Engineering and Physical Science (EPS) from not only an academic perspective, but also through engagement with partner Schools in Life Sciences and Social Sciences and collaboration with industrial partners. This will establish a specialist UK research and innovation platform for cryogenic energy storage (CES) systems and help to address associated manufacturing needs. In the Schools of Chemical and Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy and Materials the new facilities will enable our work in high temperature thermodynamic systems, engine and power train systems development and new high performance materials for arduous duty to be extended to low cryogenic conditions. Expanding existing facilities in Electronic and Electrical and Computer Engineering will advance our work in optimising integrated resilient energy systems. Through these activities, we confidently expect academic, economic and societal benefits to emerge, as the science in each of these areas matures and finds application in fields as diverse as new high performance materials for deep cold storage, improved efficiency of heat and cold exchange devices, hybrid diesel/cryogenic generation systems and energy storage/generation of low grade heat systems though hybridisation with cryogenic technology. In addition, we expect that the research facilitated by this equipment investment will allow us to secure further Research Council, TSB, EC and international development funding, and further enable industrial collaboration. Over the initial 5 year business plan we conservatively estimate that we will attract additional research investment >£6.5M. Its value will be measured by how it leverages the potential of liquid air for the UK economy. In the recent report 'Liquid Air in the energy and transport systems' it was clear that in addition to the inherent value in its contribution to balancing an electrical grid (15GW of liquid air energy storage would reduce grid emissions by 4.5%, while 30GW would cut them by 20%), liquid air could also turn waste heat into power at high levels of efficiency (UK industry loses up to 40TWh of waste heat each year, enough to heat 2.4 million homes). In diesel gensets and in transport, liquid air could combine with conventional combustion systems to create highly efficient heat hybrids and raise fuel efficiency to 60%.