Marram Energy Storage Hub would provide long-term storage for wind energy that otherwise would have been wasted, as well as six days of supply for the country’s gas energy needs.
Already a project with ‘national significance’ status from the government, MESH is very much in its infancy stages and has not yet had its final investment decision approved.
EnergyPathways, the driver of the scheme, has signed a collaboration agreement with Associated British Ports to explore the feasibility of hosting the onshore MESH facilities at the Port of Barrow. This agreement keeps the project on track to be operational by 2031.
In addition to ABP, EnergyPathways is working alongside Siemens Energy, Wood, Costain, and Zenith Energy on developing MESH.
“We are delighted to be working with ABP, the UK’s leading and largest ports group,” said Ben Clube, EnergyPathways’ chief executive.
“This relationship highlights the significant opportunities that our MESH integrated energy storage project can bring to Barrow-in-Furness and the UK’s energy and industrial sectors,” he said.
Ralph Windeatt, business development director at ABP, added: “ABP has a strong track record supporting energy projects of national significance. The Port of Barrow, specifically, has played a key role in the development and operation of the offshore wind industry in the Irish Sea.
“The MESH Project is an opportunity to further strengthen the port’s long-term future, and support the delivery of Barrow’s masterplan and contribute to the UK’s energy transition.”
MESH would be Britain’s largest integrated energy storage project, according to EnergyPathways.
The project would utilise 60 sub-surface salt caverns to provide long-term storage for offshore wind energy in compressed air form, as well as hydrogen and natural gas. This energy would be pumped into the National Grid as required using a mix of compressed air expansion processes and thermal energy and hydrogen compatible gas turbine systems.
Hydrogen stored at MESH would be harnessed using methane pyrolysis technology which is exclusively licensed to EnergyPathways for UK use. The by-product of this process is graphite, which will then be used to supply civil nuclear, defence, and battery needs.
Another potential MESH by-product is ammonia, but the feasibility of this is still being explored.
In addition to generating graphite and providing low-carbon energy, the benefits of MESH include its ability to double Britain’s gas storage capacity and thus to reduce the country’s reliance on gas imports.
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