Mercia PR and RheEnergise exploring hydro-energy deployments

Mercia PR, a provider of flexible power response services to the UK grid, and RheEnergise will identify suitable sites for additional HD Hydro storage projects. The two companies’ initial focus will be the feasibility of getting 100MW of HD Hydro in commercial operation by 2030 via Mercia PR’s existing grid connections.

With 40 sites having a combined capacity of 263MW and several sites under development and construction over the next 5-10 years, Mercia PR believes that RheEnergise’s HD Hydro storage technology would be a complementary, low-carbon solution to its operating portfolio.

In a statement, Graham White, CEO at Mercia PR said: “It is very exciting to explore how we can engage with RheEnergise's HD Hydro technology, applying our expertise in finding the right locations, developing sites, getting grid connections and operating within the capacity market. We see enormous potential for HD Hydro deployment as a future low-carbon alternative to our existing gas-powered assets.”

Rather than using water, HD Hydro uses so-called R-19, an environmentally benign fluid which is two-and-a-half times denser than water, and which can provide two-and-a-half times the power compared to a conventional low-density hydro-power system. HD Hydro can be deployed quickly and at low cost beneath hills rather than mountains, which could open up new opportunities in the UK and around the world. RheEnergise’s analysis of potential project opportunities indicated that there are around 6500 site opportunities in the UK, 115,000 in Europe, 345,000 in North America and 500,000 in Africa and the Middle East.

Stephen Crosher, chief executive of RheEnergise said: “Mercia PR’s experience in flexible power response and its deep knowledge of the UK energy system will be hugely beneficial to the RheEnergise team. Our HD Hydro technology can provide medium and long duration energy storage, which is becoming increasingly important as the UK moves towards Net Zero and with a UK energy system that is increasingly reliant on intermittent renewables.”