Overview

• The shortlist was drawn from 171 bids spanning batteries, pumped hydro, compressed air and liquid air storage technologies.
• Ofgem says the programme targets surplus wind and solar to cut costly constraint payments and reduce reliance on gas-fired generation.
• Lithium-ion systems account for just over 70% of shortlisted capacity by gigawatts, with pumped hydro about 16% and vanadium flow and hybrids making up most of the remainder.
• Five pumped-hydro schemes totaling about 4.6GW advanced, including SSE’s Coire Glas above Loch Lochy, Statkraft’s Loch na Cathrach above Loch Ness and a mine-based project at Glenmuckloch.
• Highview Power said two liquid air plants at Hunterston and Killingholme were accepted as eligible for review, moving to the next assessment stage before final picks next summer.