RedT Energy outlines involvement in massive Oxford energy project

(Sharecast News) - Energy storage solutions company RedT Energy updated the market on its role as part of a consortium of companies delivering an overall £41m grid-scale project in Oxford on Wednesday, which it said would include 5MWh, or 72 units, of vanadium redox flow machines as part of a grid-connected 50MW vanadium / lithium-ion hybrid energy storage system.The AIM-traded firm said the Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO) project would showcase a "cutting-edge electric vehicle charging network" alongside the largest vanadium/lithium hybrid energy storage system ever to be deployed, and low carbon heating and smart energy management technologies.It said the project would represent its first grid-scale, 'front of the meter' project.5MWh of RedT flow machines - the 72 units - would be hybridised with a 48MW, 50MWh lithium battery system and connected at transmission level to support a local electric vehicle charging network consisting of approximately 100 ultra-rapid and fast chargers.As flow machines could cycle heavily multiple times each day, without degradation, they were described as being well-suited to use alongside lithium-ion batteries by the firm, which themselves provided high power, but must be managed carefully to prolong their life.Together, flow machines and lithium batteries would operate as a hybrid system, making use of the relevant strengths of the two complementary technologies to balance the network and meet the complex demands of the ESO project.The Energy Superhub Oxford project planned to locate the energy storage near Cowley substation, with the location subject to planning permission being gained, and was due for delivery across 2019 and 2020.RedT said the project consortium consisted of itself, as well as Oxford City Council, Pivot Power, Habitat Energy, Kensa Contracting and the University of Oxford."We're pleased to update our shareholders on the details of our first UK grid-scale project," said RedT executive chairman Neil O'Brien."This will be the largest deployment to date of our technology in the UK and a significant achievement for RedT."