Certain Energy, a British long-duration energy storage firm, has successfully secured £10 million in a Series A funding round. The investment, led by the British Business Bank, will accelerate the commercialisation of its innovative manganese flow battery technology. This capital injection is set to advance the company's mission to stabilise global electricity grids and support the transition to renewable energy.
Addressing Grid Instability with Innovative Storage
As the world increasingly adopts renewable energy, grids face significant challenges from the intermittent nature of wind and solar power. This variability leads to periods of oversupply and undersupply, forcing grid operators to curtail clean energy generation at a substantial cost. Certain Energy aims to solve this imbalance, reducing reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants and ensuring a more stable power supply.
The Manganese Flow Battery Solution
The company's core innovation is a flow battery that utilizes manganese, an abundant and low-cost element. Unlike conventional batteries, these systems store energy in liquid electrolytes held in external tanks, a design that offers unique scalability. By simply increasing the size of these tanks, the battery's discharge duration can be extended from hours to several days.
Certain Energy's patented electrolyte technology boasts a round-trip efficiency of over 75 percent and is designed for a 20-year operational life with minimal degradation. The company projects that its design could reduce marginal storage costs to one-tenth of those associated with comparable vanadium flow batteries. This combination of performance and affordability positions it as a strong competitor to existing grid-scale storage solutions.
Strategic Investment for Commercialisation
The £10 million funding round was led by the British Business Bank, with significant participation from industry leaders Centrica and Ceres Power, alongside Temasek Trust’s C3H. This strategic backing provides the necessary capital to transition the technology from development to large-scale deployment. The investment signals strong market confidence in Certain Energy's approach to solving the energy storage challenge.
The new funds will be allocated to several key growth initiatives aimed at proving the technology's commercial viability. A primary objective is the development of a grid-connected, megawatt-hour class system in India, providing a crucial real-world demonstration. The company will also expand its UK research facility and build out the supply chain required for future projects.
Investor Confidence and Market Outlook
Investors have expressed strong confidence in Certain Energy's potential to address a critical gap in the energy market. Partners like Centrica emphasized the need for innovative long-duration storage to manage a renewables-led power mix efficiently and cost-effectively. This collective endorsement highlights the technology's perceived value in enhancing grid resilience and supporting the global energy transition.
Government support further reinforces the company's strategic importance, with the British Business Bank's investment aligning with national goals for energy security. This backing positions Certain Energy as a homegrown champion capable of turning world-class UK science into a globally relevant industry. The investment is seen as a crucial step in developing the domestic capabilities needed for a secure, clean energy system.
With this substantial Series A funding, Certain Energy is well-positioned to advance its pioneering manganese flow battery technology toward global commercialisation. The investment not only validates the company's innovative approach but also provides the resources to demonstrate its critical role in the future energy landscape. This development marks a significant step forward in making long-duration energy storage a scalable and affordable reality for grids worldwide.