An opportunity to meet with and pitch to a significant British multinational company that is seeking solutions to a key energy challenge.

The Challenge Owner is seeking a novel rechargeable energy storage system for deployment on-board ships and large land-based vehicles, and also static land-based applications. Solutions should be capable of storing energy from hours to days (and preferably longer) with a quick response time.
Priority&nbsp;will be given to modular systems and proposed solutions at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 or higher - technology validated in a relevant environment. Consideration may be given to lower TRLs, however, the solution should be close to deployment within a 5-year horizon.

Introduction

The Challenge Owner has a commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operations by 2030 and across its supply chain by 2050. As part of this ambition, the organisation is exploring ways to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and the mains grid, while building resilience of supply. The energy storage system is required for deployment in transport uses (ships and large land-based vehicles), and as such weight and size should be kept to the minimum possible.

Background

Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to pitch to the Challenge Owner. The package may also include:
<ul>
<li>Support from KTN Support in the development of a prototype or pilot</li>
<li>Technical support Invitation to attend or present at KTN events</li>
<li>A potential business collaboration Investor introductions (if investment is required)</li>
<li>Support if any Innovate UK or similar funding competitions are relevant.</li>
</ul>
For solutions that meet the technical requirements and are particularly novel, the Challenge Owner may consider offering co-investment to speed up deployment and is open to varied business models dependent on readiness for deployment.

Rewards & Benefits

A modular energy storage system currently in final stages of development or at the demonstration stage - TRL5 or higher. (Particularly novel potential solutions - TRL2 to 4 - could also be explored if deemed suitable and if they could be developed within the preferred timescale). Potential solutions could be deployed in the following scenarios:
<ul>
<li>Land-based and static</li>
<li>Land-based and mobile</li>
<li>At sea - mobile</li>
</ul>
As a minimum requirement, it should be possible to store energy for hours/days. Any improvement on this would be viewed favourably but it is recognised that this may incur a cost penalty.
Solutions may include, but are not limited to:
<ul>
<li>Batteries</li>
<li>Flywheels</li>
<li>Seawater pumped</li>
<li>Hydro fuel cells and/or hydrogen fuel cells</li>
<li>Air batteries</li>
<li>Compressed air batteries</li>
</ul>

Functional Requirements

Target performance criteria are as follows:
<ul>
<li>Storage capacity 10 to 500 MWh</li>
<li>More efficient, reliable, robust, safe, low mass, volume and cost-effective compared to the current state-of-the-art Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC-811) battery energy storage system</li>
<li>Specific energy density &gt;500 Wh kg-1</li>
<li>Volumetric energy density &gt;3000 Wh L-1</li>
<li>Cost &lt;&pound;100/kWh</li>
<li>Life &gt;2000 cycles Instantaneous efficiency &gt;95%</li>
<li>Charge degradation &lt;1% per month</li>
</ul>
Any solution should be equally or less noisy than existing alternatives, however, silent operation is not necessary.

Technical Requirements

Solutions should be lightweight enough to be viable for deployment on mobile platforms (land-based vehicles and ships). Due to the environments in which they will be deployed, any technology must be robust and resilient and able to operate in a wide range of climatic conditions.

Operating Conditions

Launch of the Competition: 11th January 2022 Deadline for applications: 28th February 2022 Selection and notification of finalists: TBC March 2022 Presentation day: TBC March 2022
Potential solutions will be expected to be able to be developed and deployed within 5 years.
For promising early-stage technology propositions, consideration may be given to investment in intellectual property to support further research and development.

Deployment Timescale

The Challenge Owner is willing to work with potential solution providers to&nbsp;develop promising early-stage solutions and may invest in return for ownership if appropriate.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Challenge Owner is open to discussion around different deployment options and business models.

Cost Requirement & Market Opportunity

The Challenge Owner is looking for significant improvements on existing energy storage solutions and will not consider submissions based on solutions that are already in the market.

Out of Scope

Applications will be assessed on:
<ul>
<li>Relevance to the challenge</li>
<li>Innovative nature of the proposed solution</li>
<li>Coherence of the proposed business model</li>
<li>Feasibility/ economic viability</li>
<li>Development potential</li>
<li>Maturity of project/solution</li>
<li>Ability to deploy the solution quickly/Ease of implementation</li>
<li>Price</li>
</ul>
Entrants to this competition must be:
<ul>
<li>Established businesses, startups, SMEs or individual entrepreneurs*</li>
<li>UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base</li>
</ul>
(while strong preference will be given to solutions from UK based organisations, consideration will be given to compelling propositions from other countries).
*Submissions from universities and other research organisations are also welcomed.

Eligibility & Assessment Criteria

Applicants must be able to demonstrate ownership of Intellectual Property (IP).&nbsp;Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the Solution Provider(s) and Challenge Owner. The Challenge Owner is prepared to enter into an arrangement whereby it takes some ownership of IP and invites successful applicants to discuss such.&nbsp; Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Solution Provider(s) and Challenge Owner.&nbsp; Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the Solution Provider(s) and Challenge Owner. (This would be expected to be after company selection, it is suggested that details of IP be not disclosed).&nbsp; Neither Innovate UK nor Innovate UK KTN will take any share of IP ownership or enter into commercial ventures through the Innovation Exchange programme.

Novel energy storage for sea and land based applications

Opportunity

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Opportunity

Challenge opens

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Introduction

Novel energy storage for sea and land based applications