Portsmouth International Port (PIP) on the south coast of England has announced it will pilot a new smart energy system that includes a novel energy storage solution.

It will include the design and construction of a dual chemistry battery technology project, specifically designed to meet port requirements. This will work together with advanced management software, which can help to optimise onsite energy use to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

The Port Energy Systems Optimisation (PESO) project is co-funded by government innovation agency Innovate UK, and brings together a consortium of Swanbarton - which is developing the energy management software - government-backed energy innovation accelerator, Energy Systems Catapult and Marine South England, a non-profit cluster organisation supporting the strategic growth of the maritime sector, which will lead the project.

Talking to our sister site Solar Power Portal, Anthony Price, managing director at Swanbarton, explained that the battery will be a lithium-ion and lead acid hybrid, and that PIP will place a contract for purchasing it soon.

“The battery exploits the two technologies’ voltage/charge curves in such a way that brief, shallow discharges are met from the durable and responsive lithium-ion cells, but longer and deeper discharges are met from the economical and environmentally friendly lead acid. So it will be a very cost-effective solution.