Highview has secured £130 million in new capital to begin construction on the initial stage of its planned 3.2GWh hybrid long-duration energy storage facility in Hunterston, Scotland. With this announcement, the company has now raised more than £500 million to commercialize and scale its long-duration renewable energy storage solutions.
The investment round included participation from the Scottish National Investment Bank, Centrica, and investors such as Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI, and Mosaic Capital. The funds will support the development of the first phase of the Hunterston initiative, known as a stability island, which will provide grid support services in a region experiencing significant challenges to power system stability. This installation operates independently of the energy storage elements and is designed to provide inertia, short-circuit, and voltage support to the UK grid.
By increasing the flexibility of power transmission between Scotland and high-demand areas across the UK, the stability island aims to reduce renewable energy curtailment, particularly from wind generation. It represents the initial deployment of Highview’s Millennium Series, which will consist of multiple 3.2GWh hybrid long-duration energy storage systems across the UK. The company is also advancing the construction of a 300MWh liquid air energy storage facility in Carrington, Manchester.
The first phase of the Hunterston stability island is expected to be operational by August 2026, with the hybrid long-duration storage system expected to be operational by 2027. Once fully developed, the Hunterston project will incorporate both liquid air storage and lithium-ion battery systems to enhance operational efficiency and facilitate longer-duration grid support. The site was recently designated an eligible project under Ofgem’s Cap and Floor support scheme for long-duration storage, further validating its strategic importance.
The facility will be located on the Peel Ports site in North Ayrshire and is projected to support 1,000 onsite jobs during construction and an additional 650 supply chain jobs across all phases. The stability island is expected to be operational by January 2028, and the complete hybrid storage facility is projected to be operational by 2030. The Hunterston project will also integrate an advanced grid analytics function intended to deliver enhanced visibility into energy system usage and future demand patterns.
KEY QUOTES:
“This capital raise is an important milestone for Highview, enabling us to build out the first phase of our long duration energy facility at Hunterston. By delivering much-needed grid services in this location, our stability island asset will prevent costly curtailment and maximise the renewable energy that we generate in the UK. Through the delivery of this phase and building on the lessons learned at our Carrington facility, we are also developing and strengthening our UK supply chain. This in turn supports future Highview projects, as well as the UK’s wider green economy, driving skills development, job creation, and economic growth across the country.”
Richard Butland, Chief Executive at Highview
“Wind production curtailment and intermittency continue to be challenges across the supply chain. As Scotland scales its renewable energy production, it’s critical that grid resilience is fortified so that more of it can be used. Working in partnership with Highview, our investment in the development of this exciting project will deliver vital infrastructure to help ensure a more stable, clean energy future.”
Mark Munro, CIO at the Scottish National Investment Bank
“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. Hunterston’s grid and analytics services will also enable the UK grid operator to better balance supply and demand challenges and help ensure our customers have electricity available when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. We’re proud to strengthen our partnership with Highview as an investor as well as continuing to share our expertise on the energy transition and power storage.”
Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive, Centrica
