Energy Storage Facility at Spittal, Caithness

Albannach Power Island I is being developed by Highview Power, a UK-based leader in clean, reliable and cost efficient long-duration energy storage and grid stability solutions. The storage technology proposed at Spittal uses liquid air energy storage. This works by taking ambient air, removing the CO₂ and particulates and cooling it to its liquid form, which is then stored on site in insulated, low pressure vessels. At times of demand, the liquid air is evaporated and expanded through a turbine to generate electricity. For long-duration storage, this is achieved at a lower cost than lithium-ion batteries and the technology provides valuable services to help integrate renewables and stabilise the electrical grid. The technology uses only benign materials with zero emissions and has zero water impact.

The project will be able to deliver 49.9MW of electricity for up to 6 hours (300-megawatt hours), providing enough power for around 120,000 homes. The system will charge from the grid at times of high levels of wind generation and discharge at times of high energy demand or low wind output.

Learn more: AlbannachPowerIsland1-InformationSheet

There will be another opportunity to discuss the proposed CRYOBattery™ energy storage scheme at Spittal 2 Quarry, north of Spittal Mains Quarry, Caithness, KW1 5XR.

Two public events on the plant took place in June of 2021. Below are the presentations given at the events:

Link to: CRYOBattery Public Consultation Meeting -03June2021

Link to: CRYOBattery Public Consultation Meeting 17June2021

Link to video about the technology: https://youtu.be/Nu9zLOBi0-E

Highview Power welcomes your comments on the proposed facility. To submit comments, please fill in the form here or download it here and send it via email to: catherine.newton@bellingram.co.uk

SUBMIT COMMENTS HERE.

Why Spittal?

The land on which the proposed plant will be built has for many years been used for industrial purposes and will continue to for decades to come.  The proposed site occupies the unused quarry to the north of the Spittal Mains Quarry where all existing buildings associated with the operational quarry activity are located. The total quarry site area is 17 acres. The footprint of the new plant would only be up to 5 acres, all of which has been previously quarried.

The site was selected because it is highly suitable for repurposing. The plant will be housed inside the second, disused quarry, adjacent to the working Spittal Mains Quarry.  The system would connect to the transmission network at the existing Spittal substation, which benefits from distributing energy from local wind farms through the Caithness Moray interconnector and transmission network. All connecting cables would be buried.

Environmental Impact

In order to meet Scotland’s NetZero goal by 2045, thermal generation plants will need to be replaced with clean power while also maintaining grid resilience. Long duration energy storage is an essential part of the solution, allowing more renewable energy while smoothing out their intermittency.

By charging from a low carbon intense  grid (CO₂ Per MWh) during periods of high renewables generation for prolonged periods of time and discharging when demand is high, the Albannach Power Island I plant could potentially help displace between 150-300 thousand metric tons of CO₂ emissions per year, depending on the contracted services with the National Grid.

This liquid air energy plant brings cutting-edge technology that meets with the Scottish Government’s firm commitment to NetZero and support renewable energy developments.

This is a globally pioneering project, which will make this rural part of Scotland synonymous with the delivery of much needed long-duration energy storage and the provision of valuable services to the National Grid. The Albannach Power Island I plant will demonstrably be at the forefront of the clean energy revolution and will be integral in helping Scotland meet its decarbonisation goals.

For the Community

The proposed Spittal plant will generate high-paying local jobs in design, project management, and construction, both directly with Highview Power and across the broader supply chain. During construction, this plant will bring workforce opportunities to both the local village of Spittal and surrounding areas. Once operational, the Spittal plant will create long-term, high-paying local jobs. Construction work alone is expected to create up to 300 jobs (over 2 years) and 7-10 high-paying permanent jobs overseeing operations and maintenance.

An information centre will also be housed in an existing building which will be used to provide facilities for visiting educational and public organisations from across the Highlands, highlighting the development of clean technologies, and specifically liquid air energy, and the part it has to play in Scotland’s 2045 Net Zero Carbon Target.

As the plant is developed, it will require the use of local services including shops, services, and overnight accommodations, bringing welcome long-term investment to the Spittal area.

 

We Want to Hear From You!

Highview Power welcomes your comments on the proposed facility. To submit comments, please fill in the form here or download it here and send it via email to: catherine.newton@bellingram.co.uk

SUBMIT COMMENTS HERE.