The UK government and UK Research and Innovation launched a £28 million challenge on August 20 to help new technologies store clean electricity for more than 100 hours.
The program will support research into advanced batteries and systems that store hydrogen underground. The aim is to save energy when wind and sunlight are plentiful, then use it when the grid needs more power.
The government says 100 hours of storage could supply homes and businesses for at least four days. It also hopes the work will reduce reliance on more expensive gas-fired generation and protect households from future price spikes.
The funding is for research and development, not a finished product. The next step is for UK innovators to develop and test systems that can work reliably at a larger scale.
