Overall Description

Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage Project Development Studies is an Innovate UK competition funded through the UKRI R&D Missions Accelerator Programme.

The competition provides Phase 1 funding for project development studies supporting the development, scale-up and UK manufacture of electrochemical ultra long duration energy storage (ULDES) technologies. Technologies must be capable of providing cost-effective electricity to the UK grid with:

• At least 100 continuous hours of discharge availability;
• A working life of at least 25 years;
• A credible pathway to UK demonstration by 2030;
• Potential for subsequent large-scale deployment in the UK energy system.

Phase 1 is intended to address the technical, engineering, commercial, site, manufacturing and supply-chain issues required to move projects towards demonstration and construction. A planned Phase 2, expected in mid-2027, has at least £10 million allocated to support large-scale ULDES demonstrators. Participation in Phase 1 is not mandatory for future Phase 2 applications.

Funding Amount

• Total Phase 1 funding: Up to £3 million;
• Grant request per project: £350,000–£700,000;
  • Micro/small organisations: Up to 70% of eligible costs;
  • Medium organisations: Up to 60%;
  • Large organisations: Up to 50%;
  • Research organisations: Collectively maximum 30% of total eligible project costs;
• Planned Phase 2 funding: At least £10 million;
• Project duration: 3–9 months.

Submission Deadlines

• Opening: 3 August 2026;
• Competition deadline: 30 September 2026 at 11:00 UK time;
• Applicants notified: 2 November 2026;
• Project start: By 1 January 2027;
• Project end: By 30 September 2027;
• First draft of development study: By 31 May 2027.

Submission Conditions

Projects must:

• Request £350,000–£700,000 in grant funding;
• Last 3–9 months;
• Start by 1 January 2027 and end by 30 September 2027;
• Be led by a UK-registered business of any size;
• Carry out funded project work in the UK;
• Intend to exploit project results in the UK;
• Spend the majority of grant funding in the UK;
• Address either Stream 1 or Stream 2;
• Identify a specific site as part of the development study;
• Demonstrate capability to progress from study through demonstration and deployment.

For collaborative projects, at least two organisations must claim funding, provide a rationale for the collaboration, and no single organisation may claim more than 70% of total project costs.

Eligible Types of Applicants

Lead applicant:

• UK-registered business of any size.

Eligible collaborators:

• Businesses of any size;
• Academic institutions;
• Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs);
• Charities;
• Not-for-profit organisations;
• Public-sector organisations.

Eligible Countries

• United Kingdom - Funded project work must be carried out in the UK;
• EU and other non-UK organisations: May participate as non-funded partners;
• Non-UK partners must cover their own costs and may undertake their activities in their home country;
• Overseas subcontractors are possible only where a strong justification is provided for why a suitable UK subcontractor cannot be used.