Already tens of millions of pounds have been invested by the Government into the development of energy storage technologies.
In another new development, Vital Energi has signed an agreement with the University of Birmingham to collaborate on commercialising a range of innovative thermal storage solutions. They will work together over an initial four years to continue the development of thermal storage Intellectual Property, with a view to bringing a number of products to market.
The university has assigned several IP rights, including various patents, to Vital Energi.
The company will combine its industry experience with the expertise of the university team, led by Professor Yulong Ding, Chamberlain Chair of Chemical Engineering, and the founder of Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage.
Vital Energi’s technical development director, Chris Taylor, said: “We see thermal energy storage as a core component in the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector. Through this collaboration, we aim to bring innovative energy storage to the market and tackle some of the obstacles introduced by an evolving energy system.
“This is an exciting time for Vital and we believe we have found the perfect partners in Professor Ding and his team at the University of Birmingham, and look forward to working together to commercialise their concepts.”
Professor Ding, who is known for inventing novel, commercialisable, technologies for electrical and thermal energy storage, has published over 450 technical papers and filed some 100 patent applications over the past 35 years.
He said: “Globally, thermal energy accounts for over 50% of final energy consumption and is responsible for more than 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, making it central to achieving net zero emissions.
While it is the hardest-to-decarbonise sector, thermal energy storage can help us address this challenge, and I am looking forward to working with Vital Energi to make this happen.”
Professor Martin Freer, director of the Birmingham Energy Institute at the University of Birmingham, added: “This partnership is really exciting as it allows a pathway for the discoveries of Professor Ding and his team to deliver impact in the development of the UK’s energy system in the much-needed area of energy storage.
“The University of Birmingham’s research is world leading in this area and it presents the opportunity with Vital Energi, who have been fantastic partners, to deliver world leading energy solutions.”
Image credit: Vital Energi
