Invinity Energy Systems is set to make UK energy history with the development of its flagship LODES project, a 20.7 MWh vanadium flow battery (VFB) system in South East England. The project will be the largest vanadium battery system ever deployed by the company and one of the UK’s first commercial sites to pair long-duration storage directly with on-site solar generation.
This development arrives at a critical time for the UK’s energy transition. As intermittent renewables like wind and solar grow, the need for grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) has surged. Historically dominated by lithium-ion technology, BESS projects have played a key role in short-term grid balancing. However, lithium-ion systems face challenges in providing multi-hour to multi-day storage, are prone to thermal runaway risks, and often suffer reduced lifespans under heavy cycling.
Vanadium flow batteries, like Invinity’s VS3 technology, offer a compelling alternative. These systems provide long-duration storage, have no risk of fire, lower degradation over time, and are better suited to daily heavy cycling without loss of capacity. Their ability to store and release energy over extended periods is seen as essential to reducing renewable curtailment and cutting fossil fuel backup requirements.
Supporting this shift, companies such as Largo Inc, a major global producer of vanadium, play a crucial role by supplying the essential raw materials needed for these advanced battery systems. The growing demand for vanadium highlights its importance in securing resilient, sustainable storage capacity for renewable energy projects across the UK and beyond.
The LODES project is backed by up to £10 million from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) under the Longer Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Demonstration programme. Once operational, the battery will provide crucial grid-balancing services, storing excess solar power during the day for dispatch during evening peaks. This could significantly reduce dependence on gas-fired power stations and lower electricity costs for consumers.
Notably, Invinity has opted to own and operate the asset directly, allowing it to optimise operations, showcase the system’s full capabilities, and serve as a vital reference site for future commercial flow battery deployments. Manufacturing is already underway at Invinity’s facility in Motherwell, Scotland, with the project scheduled for commissioning in 2026.
#RenewableEnergy #EnergyStorage #GridScaleStorage #VanadiumFlowBattery #LDES
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