Certain Energy raises £10M Series A for grid-scale flow batteries
What's the deal? UK long-duration energy storage company Certain Energy has raised £10 million in Series A funding to commercialise its manganese flow battery technology for grid-scale deployment. The British Business Bank led the round, with Centrica, Ceres Power HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Temasek Trust's Catalytic Capital for Climate and HealthDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and c3h participating.
Who's behind it? Founded in 2017 as a spin-off from Imperial College LondonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and previously known as RFC PowerDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Certain Energy builds systems that store renewable electricity and release it when wind and solar output is low. Its stated goals: stabilise grids, reduce renewable curtailment, and cut reliance on gas-fired peaker plants.
How it works: Unlike conventional batteries, flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes held in external tanks. Certain Energy can extend discharge duration — from hours to days — simply by enlarging those tanks.
Why manganese? The company uses manganese, an abundant element it says offers a lower-cost alternative to materials in rival long-duration storage. Certain Energy claims its design could cut marginal storage costs to about one-tenth of comparable vanadium flow batteries, with a patented electrolyte built for a 20-year operating life.
What's the money for? The Series A will fund a grid-connected MWh-class system in India, the expansion of Certain Energy's UK research facility, and the build-out of a supply chain for commercial deployments. The company will also continue preparing its technology for volume production.
The signal: The round sits above the median for its stage — around the 75th percentile by amount — signalling investor confidence in long-duration storage. Certain Energy says its system achieves round-trip efficiency above 75%, positioning it to compete with lithium-ion on grid services while offering the longer-duration reserve capacity that renewable-heavy grids increasingly need.
Read more: Tech.eu
Image credit: theslowlane
