The latest Investing Matters Podcast episode featuring financial educator and author Jared Dillian has been released. Listen here.
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"Battery storage: the heart of the low-carbon home
... Looking beyond renewables
The benefits of home battery storage go beyond renewables, too. For billpayers who can’t afford to invest in a full solar array or a home wind turbine, an energy storage battery can still deliver significant cost and carbon savings.
Many batteries are app-controlled and can be configured to charge strategically in line with smart tariffs. So, your battery will charge when energy costs and demands are low (such as overnight, when cheap rates are in place.) You can then run your home on clean battery power when energy costs are high, and the grid is under strain.
Even without renewables, a storage battery can still contribute to a low-cost and low-carbon home.
The evolution of battery storage – and its uptake
Fortunately, though awareness is still somewhat behind where it should be, we are seeing an uptick in home storage batteries. For instance, we at GivEnergy commission upwards of 1000 systems per week in the UK alone.
Perhaps most exciting is how advanced these systems are becoming. To use GivEnergy as an example, in 2018, our most powerful residential battery had an individual capacity of 5.2kWh. Fast forward to 2023, and we are on the brink of launching a combined battery and inverter in one integrated product, complete with a backup gateway with a capacity of 13.5kWh. Of course, all these batteries are scalable and can be operated in series to create larger capacity storage systems. ..."
https://www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk/2023/04/battery-storage-the-heart-of-the-low-carbon-home/
Home battery storage looks like a huge business growth opportunity, and one which is now really starting to take off:-
"Battery storage: the heart of the low-carbon home
Today’s billpayer faces a perfect storm when it comes to energy usage: soaring costs, energy uncertainty, and mounting climate concerns.
27 April 2023
4 Min Read
In the face of growing strains on traditional energy systems, consumers are increasingly turning towards renewable energy solutions, prompting us to speak with GivEnergy CEO, Jason Howlett, who elaborates on the pivotal role of home storage batteries.
While such a shift towards renewable energy is welcome, it’s not enough. Renewables are, by nature, intermittent. So, it is only when paired with an energy storage technology that billpayers can maximise the potential of their renewable system. Simply put, a home storage battery should sit at the heart of the low-carbon home.
Harnessing renewable energy reliably with home storage batteries
Last year, the UK generated a record amount of energy from renewable sources. Indeed, researchers found that 40% of the UK’s electricity in 2022 comprised solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower. (Representing a 5% increase from 2021).
However, there is no requirement that complementary storage batteries should be in place for these booming renewable projects. Indeed, while everyone is familiar with solar panels and wind turbines, awareness around home storage batteries is much further behind.
This lack of awareness is damaging in terms of both cost and carbon emissions. Many people are surprised to discover that, without storage, much of the energy generated by renewables can go to waste. In fact, it’s been reported that two-thirds of the world’s energy is wasted somewhere between generation and usage. And beyond the waste, a lack of storage means that homes can only use their renewable energy when weather permits. ..."
https://www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk/2023/04/battery-storage-the-heart-of-the-low-carbon-home/
In the twelve months to 31st. July, AceOn's export business alone has increased by over a million pounds, which is a sign both of the company's success, and of what a compelling growth market ARA is targeting for its RTO:-
"AceOn shortlisted for premier export award
Posted by: Alex Thompson
Post Date: July 31
Growing UK renewable energy and battery specialist AceOn has been shortlisted for a top prize in one of the country’s most prestigious awards schemes.
The company is a finalist for the exporter of the year title at the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards.
It will compete against 10 other firms from across the country for the title – sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade – with the winners being announced at a gala awards night at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane in November.
AceOn, which has bases in Telford and Solihull, has enjoyed a hugely successful year trading around the world.
Managing director Mark Thompson said: “The past 12 months have really seen our export performance take off. This nomination is further confirmation that we have established ourselves firmly as one of the UK’s battery specialists.
“We are exporting products and working on projects with companies and organisations across several continents. We have secured some big orders and seen a seven-figure increase in the value of our exports business.
“A key ingredient in our success is that we have established strong partnerships with market-leading suppliers of batteries and components such as BMZ. This means that, for our export and domestic markets, the batteries we distribute and the battery packs we manufacture here in the UK offer value-for-money and good quality for our customers.
“And we were delighted to be selected as a Regional Export Champion to share our experiences with other Midlands’ businesses and help the region power up its international trade.” ..."
https://www.aceongroup.com/news/aceon-shortlisted-for-premier-export-award/
"AceOn strengthens team with key new appointment
... AceOn opened its new offices in Solihull earlier this year as part of a longer-term plan to set up a new warehouse and manufacturing facility in the West Midlands Combined Authority area.
The company has more than 30 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of custom-built battery packs, supporting the development of new battery technologies and products, and the distribution of industrial and consumer batteries to the worldwide market.
The energy division provides a training, service and distribution centre to offer a full turnkey solution for residential and commercial battery energy storage systems.
The group has built a reputation as being specialists in renewable and battery technology, particularly the development of bespoke, custom-built battery packs. Mark and AceOn have been selected by the UK Government as one of its Export Champions."
https://www.aceongroup.com/news/aceon-strengthens-team-with-key-new-appointment/
Another impressive privately-held British energy storage and battery tech company, that could potentially RTO in ARA:-
"AceOn are a pioneering energy storage and battery company with over 30 years’ experience in the battery industry. We are a Telford-based company who supply quality battery energy storage systems and ancillary Renewables such as Solar PV and Inverters."
HTTP://www.aceongroup.com/
AceOn is currently growing strongly, and now looks like an ideal time for it to float on the stock market, via a RTO:-
"AceOn strengthens team with key new appointment
Posted by: Alex Thompson
Post Date: July 17, 2023
Expanding UK renewable energy and battery specialist AceOn has strengthened its team with a key appointment to help drive its strategic growth plans.
Jean Maclachlan has joined the company – which has bases in Telford and Solihull – as senior project management consultant.
Jean, who has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry, moves to AceOn from US-headquartered Fortune 500 company, Cummins Inc, which leads the diesel engine and alternative energy industry.
AceOn managing director Mark Thompson said Jean would bring a huge amount of expertise and industry knowledge to the company at an important moment in its growth.
“We are thrilled to have appointed someone who is so respected within the industry. Jean will play a key role in promoting our commercial and industrial energy storage solutions at a time when demand is growing at huge pace.
“Our commercial battery products help businesses store renewable and low-tariff power for the most cost-effective use and are an essential tool for companies looking to become more green, reduce their dependency on the Grid, and combat the rising cost of energy.
“With her experience and knowledge of the market, Jean is ideally placed to help drive our continued growth in the sector.”
In the last few years Jean has worked primarily in new energy production and distribution. Her educational background stems from one of the top ten engineering universities in the US, Virginia Tech, with a speciality in Industrial Engineering.
Her recent past career experiences include designing and building data centres, industrial and residential power generation sites in the realm of project management, customer relationship management and opportunity strategy.
She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining AceOn to help the company with its continued growth. I am a big admirer of the work that it does and its proud track record in innovation and delivering low carbon, sustainable energy solutions.
“I look forward to playing my part in helping the company build further on its success and leading the way in the commercial and industrial energy storage fields.” ..."
https://www.aceongroup.com/news/aceon-strengthens-team-with-key-new-appointment/
"INVESTMENT IDEAS
How to invest in battery storage ...
In the recent past, gas or coal-fired power stations were responsible for grid-balancing activities. Some facilities, known as peaking plants, are only ever brought online to provide support during periods of high electricity demand. But as the UK moves towards a net zero energy system, it will need to stop relying on these fossil fuel assets. Last autumn, Drax (DRX) delayed the closure of its coal units at the request of the UK government, in order to provide 1.3GW of emergency back-up following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the energy market turmoil that followed. But Drax has said it will not do the same this year, citing "technical, maintenance and staffing reasons". The UK's only other coal-fired power station, meanwhile, is due to close next year. But battery assets can pick up the slack. As of last month, there was 2.4GW of battery storage capacity operating in the country, as well as 66GW somewhere in the development pipeline. On a cold day in the UK, peak UK electricity demand stands at around 60GW
The opportunity for investors seems obvious: policy dictates that there should be a massive battery build-out in the near future, but work has only just begun. “There are a lot of new assets coming online, and the revenue is predictable to a certain extent because we know how power demand varies throughout the day,” Jaffe says. “You’ve also got the backdrop of the electrification of transport and heating, and more renewables coming onto the grid. Batteries stand to benefit from all these factors that might inject volatility into the system.” ... "
https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/ideas/2023/08/08/how-to-invest-in-battery-storage/
"INVESTMENT IDEAS
How to invest in battery storage
Large-scale battery-storage assets are key enablers of the energy transition. A small subset of London-listed investment trusts offer private investors a way into the sector
August 8, 2023
By Jennifer Johnson
It took a single lightning strike to instantly shut down 5 per cent of the UK's power on 9 August 2019. The bolt hit a transmission circuit just before 5pm, triggering a rare simultaneous outage at both the Hornsea offshore wind farm and the Little Barford gas power station. The loss of these large generators meant that the frequency of the country’s electricity grid fell to 48.8 hertz – below the lower limit of 49.5 hertz at which National Grid's Electricity Systems Operator (ESO) must maintain the power system.
When this kind of drop-off occurs, power is automatically shut off somewhere on the network to prevent frequency from falling further. In this instance, it just so happened that the lights went out in parts of central London as rush hour was getting under way. Traffic lights stopped working, trains ground to a halt and passengers stranded on platforms navigated out of stations using the torches on their mobile phones.
Although power and services were mostly restored within a few hours, the 9 August blackout was the UK’s largest in more than a decade – and it could have been much worse. Batteries were part of the reason the disruption was contained. At the time, National Grid (NG.) had a total of 200 megawatts (MW) of its own frequency-response batteries at its disposal. These assets are able to provide on-demand electricity in the event of a shortfall elsewhere on the network.
The grid operator was also able to call on nearly 300MW of battery storage put in place by other organisations. “When the battery storage assets detected that drop in frequency, they ramped up their output milliseconds later,” explains Markuz Jaffe, an investment companies analyst at Peel Hunt. “This really speaks to the value they have on the grid.”
By the end of the decade, the consultancy Rystad Energy predicts that the UK will have some 24 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage installed – with enough energy in reserve to power 18mn homes for a year. As the country comes to rely on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, reliable sources of back-up power will be needed for days without a strong breeze or adequate sunshine. ..."
https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/ideas/2023/08/08/how-to-invest-in-battery-storage/
Looks like better UK battery regulation is coming, which could provide opportunities for safer battery technology and domestic production:-
"E-bike battery fires prompt call for better regulation
27 July
By Tom Gerken & Chris Vallance
Technology reporters
Batteries for e-bikes should be regulated in the same way as fireworks, heavy machinery or medical devices because of the fire risk they pose, a charity has said.
In June, a woman and two children died in a fire linked to an e-bike battery. ...
Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade said it has been called to a fire caused by e-bike batteries on average once every two days in 2023.
"The huge amount of energy that is released over time when a battery bursts into flames is unlike other fires," said Electrical Safety First chief executive Lesley Rudd.
A room could be destroyed "in a matter of minutes" she said.
"This unique type of fire requires special measures to tackle the increasing problem."
The UK should adopt regulation similar to rules introduced in New York City in March 2023, Ms Rudd believes.
The US city has signed into law legislation which requires e-bikes, e-scooters and their batteries to meet standards set by a third party with expertise in battery technology. ...
A government spokesperson told the BBC: "The Office for Product and Safety and Standards is working closely with the fire brigade to ensure product safety issues are properly assessed and action is taken to protect consumers.
"If manufacturers don't comply with product safety regulations, appropriate enforcement action will be taken, such as ordering the removal of the product from the market." ...
"Lithium battery fires can spread quickly out of control, and within minutes have started a large fire," it says. ...
James Metcalfe, founder of e-bike firm Volt, told the BBC there was a proliferation of substandard batteries online and "consumers need to be educated that cheap imported batteries can be extremely dangerous".
He said firms like Volt already had robust quality standards and welcomed any measures that would better protect the consumer."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66304564
"Fremantle Highway: Disaster averted as burnt car carrier reaches port
1 day ago
By Paul Kirby
BBC News
More than a week after fire swept through a cargo ship carrying almost 4,000 cars in the North Sea, the crippled ship has been towed into port in the north-east of the Netherlands. ...
The Dutch coast guard stressed the cause of the fire on the 11-deck ship was unknown and authorities were careful not to speculate. But an audio recording emerged of one rescue worker suggesting it had started in the battery of an electric vehicle and "it appears an electric vehicle exploded too".
Of the 3,783 cars on board the ship, 498 were electric vehicles. ..."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66393507
The Freemantle Highway shipping disaster has highlighted the great fire risk of many existing batteries, with cheaper Chinese lithium ion batteries being particularly risky.
Which highlights the case for safer alternative battery technology, and domestic production.
Both areas which could potentially be an excellent RTO into ARA.
From TradingView.com:-
"AURA RENEWABLE ACQUISITIONS PLC ORD GBP0.01"
"6.75GBXD 0.00 0.00%"
"ARA technical analysis"
"Summary Oscillators Moving Averages"
"Buy Neutral Strong buy"
https://www.tradingview.com/symbols/LSE-ARA/technicals/
From Investing.com:-
"Aura Renewable Acquisitions PLC (ARA)"
"6.75 0.00 0.00%"
"ARA Technical Analysis"
"Summary: STRONG BUY
Moving Averages: STRONG BUY Buy (10) Sell (2)
Technical Indicators: STRONG BUY Buy (8) Sell (1)"
https://uk.investing.com/equities/aura-renewable-acquisitions-technical
Thanks MM.
15 ARA Aura Renewable 6.75 12.5% 0.75
ARA has closed at fifteenth on the top risers board today, putting it in the top one per cent of performers.
And its rise of 0.75p, to 6.75p, has broken it out upwards to a new 2023 closing high.
ITS meanwhile has finished second on the top fallers list, down 31% to 1.9p, market cap. £1.44m.
But that's still double the market cap. of ARA, despite ARA having multiples of ITS's cash.
And ARA is still trading at a significant discount to its cash.
Definitely looks like a buy... I saw another shell got snapped up today (ALTE) I suspect we may either see some more TR1's off more savy investors or an intended RTO announcement soon enough? Trouble is, there's only 10 mil shares in issue, so they are very unlikely to be getting the shares at this level for too long.
Hedgehog bought my attention to this one, so deserves the credit, looks like a good spot by them and hopefully a fruitful investment opportunity for those taking a position.
Only 1 trade today ..looks unlikely to be a sale at that price!imagine if there was concerted buying!
You're welcome RS.
And you're not really missing anything, MM. The shell ITS is massively overvalued, and ARA is massively undervalued ... at the moment.
Recent Share Trades for Aura Renew Acq (ARA)
Date Time Trade Prc Volume Buy/Sell Bid Ask Value
31-Jul-23 08:39:12 6.50 5,923 Buy* 5.50 6.50 385.00 O
The full ARA buy price of 6.5p in now being paid, for just a few hundred pounds of stock.
So there can't be much more 6.5p ARA stock available now.
Thanks hedgehog and mr magorium, I have queried it with my broker, I suspect they have just mis-categorised the share somehow.
When you have companies with approx 10% of the cash this has, but a market CAP of 2.5x value here. That doesn't make much sense to me. This is also a main market shell, not AIM.
I'm missing something surely.
I may be missing something...
Recent Share Trades for Aura Renew Acq (ARA)
Date Time Trade Prc Volume Buy/Sell Bid Ask Value
27-Jul-23 14:45:18 6.50 77 Buy* 5.50 6.50 5.01 O
27-Jul-23 12:00:16 6.06666 3,884 Buy* 5.50 6.50 235.63 O
27-Jul-23 09:08:17 6.425 25,000 Buy* 5.00 6.50 1,606 O
27-Jul-23 09:02:36 6.40 20,000 Buy* 5.00 6.50 1,280 O
ARA has today moved back up to 6p mid, for the first time since 5th. July.
And that small £235.63 trade actually looks like a sell for over 6p, so the 'real' mid price is now 6.25p (spread 6p - 6.5p).
A close above 6.375p mid (the 22nd. February close) would be a new 2023 closing high.
RazorShultz - ARA is a Main Market share, but even if it was AIM, AIM shares have been allowed in ISAs since 2013.
Is it just an ISA issue, or will your broker just not offer dealing in this shares out of ISAs either?
It can be held in an ISA, what provider are you using?
What providers do you use to hold your investments with? Tried to buy this share in my ISA and my provider is saying this investment can't be held in an ISA. As far as I'm aware this is just an ordinary share. What types of accounts are people using then, just general investment accounts?
Yes MM, the penny share market is showing some signs of excitement at the moment.
As I write, the top three risers today are all up over 100%:-
Top Risers
Share Price Change
Actual Experienc... (ACT) 1.425 +147.83%
Aptamer Group (APTA) 8.00 +113.33%
Rtc Grp. (RTC) 37.50 +108.33%
ARA's day should come.
We have the quality and value, and positive news should be forthcoming shortly.
Seems a good bet IMO Hedgehog. I've made a few purchases over the last few weeks. Seems to be that listed cash shells are now a dieing breed, and if you want to see how ridiculous the price action can be, check out the performance of ITS, which was up until yesterday a cash shell on the verge of de-listing with very little cash and no BOD intent on undertaking an RTO. That changed with an RNS yesterday. It was 0.2p Friday and today traded at over 4p... circa 80k cash, 53 million shares in issue. If I compare those fundamentals to what we have here, it could give an indication of where things can go with these types of companies... AIMHO GLA DYOR
Recent Share Trades for Aura Renew Acq (ARA)
Date Time Trade Prc Volume Buy/Sell Bid Ask Value
25-Jul-23 13:34:06 6.40 31,001 Buy* 5.00 6.50 1,984 O
25-Jul-23 12:02:19 6.20 23,976 Buy* 5.00 6.50 1,487 O
So the last of the sub 6p ARA stock has gone, and the latest buy paid 6.4p.
These are actually the first ARA buys for over 6p since June, and the mid price should follow suit shortly if this trend continues.
"Eku Energy announces two new UK battery storage projects totalling 130MWh
Corporate | Jul 20, 2023
London 20th July 2023
Global energy storage developer Eku Energy is due to commence construction shortly on two new battery storage projects in the UK. Together the two projects in Basildon, Essex and Loudwater, Buckinghamshire have an installed capacity of 130MWh and will provide vital flexibility to support the UK electricity system, enable more renewable generation and advance the UK’s clean energy transition.
Since its launch in November 2022 Eku Energy has expanded rapidly and now has 1.2GWh of battery storage in delivery with operations in Australia, Italy, Japan, Taiwan and the UK.
The company has placed an order with NHOA Energy, NHOA Group’s (NHOA.PA, formerly Engie EPS) business unit dedicated to energy storage, to supply two stand-alone battery energy storage systems for Basildon and Loudwater. Construction is due to commence at both sites in Q4 2023 and they are expected to be commercially operational by the end of 2024.
The deal between Eku Energy and NHOA Energy is an opportunity to develop a strong partnership as both businesses expand into new markets. NHOA Energy and Eku Energy will also undertake a long-term service agreement regarding the batteries’ operational maintenance.
In its latest Future Energy Scenarios[1] published this month, National Grid indicated it expects 10-20GW of battery storage to connect by 2030, up from 2.8GW today. Once operational, Basildon and Loudwater will provide vital grid services to increase system resilience and support the UK’s net zero transition.
Sandra Grauers Nilsson, CEO of Eku Energy commented: “Battery storage is essential to the decarbonisation of electricity systems globally and Eku Energy is focused on delivering safe, secure and reliable solutions at scale and pace. We’re delighted to have partnered with NHOA Energy on these two new battery storage projects as we continue to expand our global battery storage portfolio”.
Lucie Kanius-Dujardin, NHOA Energy’s Executive Vice President – Global Markets & Development commented: “We cannot wait to start working with Eku Energy on the Basildon and Loudwater projects, given our common values and similar approach to the energy transition. Entering the UK market with over 130MWh of projects for Eku Energy, a globally recognised energy storage developer, is an important step forward in NHOA Energy’s journey and proves once again our global reach and execution capabilities”.
Eku Energy already has a 40MW/40MWh battery in Maldon, Essex in construction and recently announced a new partnership with Renera Energy to develop 1GW of battery storage in Italy.
The company was initially established by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group ...
https://nhoa.energy/documents/eku-energy-announces-two-new-uk-battery-storage-projects-totalling-130mwh/
I wonder who N. Fitzpatrick is, ARA's new 3% shareholder?
He's obviously a shrewd investor, not only identifying this outstanding & undervalued investment opportunity, but then also cannily accumulating on dips.
And his surname 'fitz' quite well with one of ARA's directors:-
"David Fitzsimmons, Non-Executive Director
David Fitzsimmons is highly experienced in the energy business, in both executive and non-executive positions. After a 27-year career with BP, from 1978 to 2004, he served as CEO of the UK listed renewables company Novera Energy for 4 years, from 2005 to 2009. He has subsequently advised a number of other renewables companies, including serving on the strategic advisory board of Braemar Energy in New York from 2005 to 2020.
Currently, David is a Member of the Technology Expert Service at Imperial College and has been since 2019, providing support and guidance on the commercialisation of its technologies, and has been a member of Pearlstone Energy’s Advisory Board from 2018.
Additionally, David is Chairman of Locate in Kent (appointed in 2015) , the Inward Investment Agency for Kent, as well as a Governor of Skinners Kent Academy (appointed in 2011). David has also been appointed as a director of the Skinners’ Academy, with effect from 1 January 2022. David was made Chairman of Dig Deep in 2021, having been a director and trustee since 2017, a charity that brings clean water and hygiene training to rural communities in Kenya.
Previously, David served as a director at the Renewables Energy Association (REA) from 2007 to 2009 and the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) from 1996 to 1997. He resides in the United Kingdom."
https://aurarenewables.com/about/