Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage challenge
Challenge aims to strengthen UK energy security, create jobs in new industries, and reduce energy bills in the long-term.
Innovate UK has launched a challenge where businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for project development studies to support the development of ultra long duration battery energy storage demonstrators in the United Kingdom.
This is to support the delivery of electrochemical ultra long duration energy storage (ULDES) project development studies in Phase 1.
This competition is part of the wider Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage (Ultra-LDES) Challenge which will offer grants which support the development of new tech focused on energy storage, including advanced batteries and underground hydrogen storage. It is delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and other government departments.
The aim of this competition is to support the development, scale-up, and UK manufacture of electrochemical ULDES technologies. These ULDES technologies must be capable of delivering cost effective electrical power to the UK’s electricity grid with a discharge availability of at least 100 continuous hours. They must also achieve a working life of at least 25 years.
Your proposal must deliver a project development study that includes:
- technology assessment
- engineering design
- cost and scale-up roadmap
- market assessment
- development plan
- manufacturing and supply chain plan
A project’s total eligible grant funding request must be between £350,000 and £700,000.
This is Phase 1 of a planned two phase competition, with Phase 2 scheduled to launch in the middle of 2027.
Find out more about the challenge and how to apply.
Applications will close at 11am on Wednesday 30 September 2026.
First published 27 August 2026