The UK is preparing to switch on what could become Europe’s largest vanadium flow battery — a massive energy storage hub designed to keep electricity flowing long after the sun goes down.
Built in East Sussex by Invinity Energy Systems, the Copwood VFB Energy Hub combines 90 vanadium flow batteries with a 3-megawatt solar array. Together, the system can store up to 20.7 megawatt-hours of electricity, reportedly enough to help power around 3,000 homes during nighttime hours.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that are usually used for shorter bursts of power, vanadium flow batteries are designed for long-duration energy storage. During the day, the system stores excess solar energy that might otherwise go unused. Later, when demand rises in the evening, that energy can be released back into the grid.
One of the biggest differences is the chemistry itself. The system uses a water-based electrolyte, which eliminates the fire risks often associated with lithium-ion battery storage facilities. The batteries are also designed for decades of repeated charging and discharging, making them suitable for heavy long-term grid use.
The project is expected to begin operations later in 2026 and is already being viewed as an important test case for the UK’s future renewable energy infrastructure. As more countries rely on solar and wind power, large-scale storage systems like this may become essential for balancing electricity supply when weather conditions change.
The batteries were assembled at Invinity’s manufacturing facilities in Motherwell and Bathgate, Scotland. The project also received support from the UK government’s longer-duration energy storage program and backing from the National Wealth Fund.
The company says future expansion of this technology could eventually support up to 1,000 manufacturing and industrial jobs across the UK.
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