Port in southern England could get a ‘very cost-effective’ hybrid lithium-lead acid solution

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Portsmouth International Port, where

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.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“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.

To read the full version of this story, visit Solar Power Portal, where it was first published.

Read Next

October 8, 2026
Annual battery energy storage system (BESS) failures per-deployed-GWh declined 98% globally between 2018 and 2025, as installed BESS capacity grew exponentially.
October 7, 2026
US energy holding company and project developer-owner NextEra Energy has suspended operations at two energy storage facilities in Long Island, New York, US.
Premium
October 6, 2026
Inaccurate state of charge (SOC) measurements can cost battery energy storage system (BESS) operators up to 15% in lost revenue, a persistent issue despite advances in monitoring technology.
September 14, 2026
Lava Blue commissions Australia’s first grid-connected sodium-sulfur BESS, while ZEBRE’s 360MWh Noblevale BESS clears EPBC review.
September 7, 2026
Blueleaf Energy and Universal Peak have closed financing for a 100MW/400MWh battery storage project, which was one of four winning bids in a Malaysian government tender.