There are major challenges inherent in meeting the goals of the UK national energy policy, including, climate change mitigation and adaption, security of supply, asset renewal, supply infrastructure etc. Additionally, there is a recognized shortage of high quality scientists and engineers with energy-related training to tackle these challenges, and to support the UK's future research and development and innovation performance as evidenced by several recent reports;Doosan Babcock (Energy Brief, Issue 3, June 2007, Doosan Babcock); UK Energy Institute (conducted by Deloitte/Norman Broadbent, 'Skills Needs in the Energy Industry' 2008); The Institution of Engineering and Technology, (evidence to the House of Commons, Select Committee on Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Fifth Report (19th June 2008); The Energy Research Partnership (Investigation into High-level Skills Shortages in the Energy Sector, March 2007). Here we present a proposal to host a Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) focusing on the development of technologies for a low carbon future, providing a challenging, exciting and inspiring research environment for the development of tomorrow's research leaders. This DTC will bring together a cohort of postgraduate research students and their supervisors to develop innovative technologies for a low carbon future based around the key interlinking themes: [1] Low Carbon Enabling Technologies; [2] Transport & Energy; [3] Carbon Storage, underpinned by [4] Climate Change & Energy Systems Research. Thereby each student will develop high level expertise in a particular topic but with excitement of working in a multidisciplinary environment. The DTC will be integrated within a campus wide Interdisciplinary Institute which coordinates energy research to tackle the 'Grand Challenge' of developing technologies for a low carbon future, our DTC students therefore working in a transformational research environment. The DTC will be housed in a NEW 14.8M Energy Research Building and administered by the established (2005) cross campus Earth, Energy & Environment (EEE) University Interdisciplinary Institute

"Energy storage is a vital aspect of electricity supply, balancing variation in energy demand and energy generation. A novel approach to energy storage uses refrigerated air to store energy until it is needed. Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) uses electricity to cool air to -196degC, the temperature at which it liquefies. The liquid is then stored in an insulated tank until there is a demand for the stored energy. Exposure to ambient air or waste heat from an industrial process causes rapid re-gasification of the refrigerated air and a 700-fold expansion in volume; this expansion is used to drive a turbine and generate electricity. LAES brings considerable benefits to the grid in terms of security of supply. Its large scale, long duration storage capability helps balance the grid against variation in generation and demand, with intermittency linked to the increasing contribution of renewable energy, such as wind power, in the energy generation mix. A major advantage over conventional energy storage options is that LAES systems can be placed within industrial estates or next to existing power generators in order to capture waste heat which can be used to create the gas; thus increasing the efficiency of the system. UK SME Highview Power Storage are world leaders in large scale, long duration LAES energy storage. Highview's LAES system, currently being commissioned in a demonstration plant in Pilsworth, Greater Manchester, has been designed to use off the shelf components, proven in other applications and with long lifespans (30 years), minimising technology risk. It also uses widely available and environmentally benign materials, such as gravel in the cold store. The demonstration plant uses a water based heat store; whilst this represents the current state-of-the-art, water has significant limitations and Highview, in partnership with the University of Brighton, are seeking Innovate UK support to develop an alternative, innovative HGHS that makes a significant contribution to LAES process efficiency. This project will optimise LAES technology and accelerate commercialisation. Specifically, the project will develop a High Grade Heat Store Solution (HGHS) that allows Highview's LAES system to recover higher temperature waste heat from the process itself or from contributory sources that are co-located. An innovative approach is proposed, entailing the development of an alternative heat transfer fluid (HTF) that correlates with the pressure, heat transfer, viscosity, flammability and toxicity parameters of LAES, and operates at temperatures that deliver optimized RTE within a practical, cost-effective HGHS solution."

Frequency response from a Liquid Air Energy Storage LAES plant Abstract Highview Power Storage is a UK based developer of energy storage systems which use liquid air as the energy storage medium. Liquid Air Energy Storage LAES systems, demonstrated for many years at pilot scale, will offer a bulk energy storage option that will add resilience and flexibility to the power network of the UK and to export markets around the world. LAES plants are built using established technology, sourced from a global mature supply chain, commonly found in the industrial gas and LNG sectors. A Pre Commercial Partial Demonstrator has been built at Pilsworth in Greater Manchester and is currently being commissioned. This system has received 8m pounds in funding from DECC and the funds sought from Innovate UK for this proposed project will have additionality by converting the partial demonstrator into the worlds first ever commercial scale full LAES system with rapid response capability. LAES systems function by using an electrically driven compressor based refrigeration system to condense air into a cryogenic fluid. The liquid air LAIR is stored in low pressure tanks until the system is required to discharge, at which point ambient or waste heat is applied and work is captured from the expanding gas in an expansion turbo generator note that the generator is typically synchronous and as a result, naturally provides inertia to the system. Highview have developed a way to enhance the design of LAES systems in order to provide rapid enhanced frequency response services with future LAES plants. This project will explore a first of a kind deployment of their newly patented system innovations and ascertain the commercial benefit of entering future National Grid Enhanced Frequency Response tenders, in addition to the demand for similar services and faster response times in general around the world.

Highview Enterprises Limited is a UK-based developer of large scale power storage technology, using liquid air as the storage medium. Highview’s technology combines proven components from the liquid air and power generation sectors in an innovative way, and produces no harmful emissions. Energy storage is an emerging sector and detailed know-how about market opportunities is scarce and often poorly defined. Large grid-scale storage applications represent a major part of the market and the best opportunity for Highview to take advantage of the developing appetite for energy storage. In addition, Highview’s ability to provide cooling and to convert waste heat to power means that the technology has significant market opportunities in the energy intensive industrial sector where large cooling loads are present and/or waste heat exhausted. The aim of the project is to gain an understanding of the market for energy storage technologies in India, a developing economy characterised by dynamics which ought to favour the deployment of novel energy storage solutions. In addition to enabling Highview to develop a detailed understanding of the potential for its technology in the Indian energy market and establishing commercial contacts, a key objective of the project will be to develop a resource-light analytical and commercial template to be used in assessing other developing markets. The energy storage market is characterised by huge potential but also a wide choice of technological solutions, many of which are at an early stage of readiness and with significant uncertainties about their costs. Highview offers a UK-developed environmentally friendly, technology at an advanced state of readiness that can offer storage solutions on a global scale and cost. Thus the project should lead to significant export opportunities as well as providing a means to support the broader deployment of intermittent renewable energy sources.

Highview Power Storage is a UK based developer of energy storage systems which use liquid air as the energy storage medium. Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) systems, demonstrated for many years at pilot scale, will offer a bulk energy storage option that will add resilience and flexibility to the power network of the UK and to export markets around the world. LAES plants are built using established technology, sourced from a global mature supply chain, commonly found in the industrial gas and LNG sectors. A Pre Commercial Partial Demonstrator has been built at Pilsworth in Greater Manchester and is currently being commissioned. This system has received £8m in funding from DECC and the funds sought from Innovate UK for this proposed project will have additionality by converting the partial demonstrator into the world's first ever commercial scale full LAES system with rapid response capability. LAES systems function by using an electrically driven compressor based refrigeration system to condense air into a cryogenic fluid. The liquid air (LAIR) is stored in low pressure tanks until the system is required to discharge, at which point ambient (or waste) heat is applied and work is captured from the expanding gas in an expansion turbo generator (note that the generator is typically synchronous and as a result, naturally provides inertia to the system). Highview have developed a way to enhance the design of LAES systems in order to provide rapid enhanced frequency response services with future LAES plants. This project will explore a first of a kind deployment of their newly patented system innovations and ascertain the commercial benefit of entering future National Grid Enhanced Frequency Response tenders, in addition to the demand for similar services and faster response times in general around the world.