Sunamp joins EU energy project

East Lothian-based Sunamp is to take a leading role in a major cross-border project to develop advanced energy storage systems.

Led by Ulster University, the scheme has received EU funding totalling €6.7 million (£6.1m). It follows the UK government’s announcement of an overhaul of how energy will be generated, stored and used in the future.

The project involves collaboration between Ulster University, three research institutes and 14 businesses via a cross-border “virtual research graduate school”. Partner organisations include Strathclyde University and utility giant SSE.

Match-funding for the project has been provided by the department of jobs, enterprise and innovation in Ireland and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland.

Andrew Bissell, chief executive of Sunamp, said: “As the creator of non-toxic compact heat batteries, Sunamp was approached to work with the project partners to increase adoption of clean energy sources in the domestic market and help to tackle fuel poverty as a result.

“Our high-energy density, high-power density heat batteries are already in use in homes across Scotland.”

Project leader Professor Neil Hewitt, director of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies at Ulster University, said: “If consumers can store energy effectively, that will allow very high levels of renewables to be integrated into power grids globally, at the same time as putting consumers at the heart of the energy system.”

The project is likely to generate at least eight IP disclosures in areas ranging from thermochemical material storage to heat pump design and ways to prevent biofouling.