The £300m development by Highview Power at Trafford Energy Park in Carrington, Manchester will store surplus electricity generated from wind and solar and will be the first commercial-scale plant in the UK deploying pioneering liquid air energy storage technology.

The technology enables renewable energy to be stored for up to several weeks and the plant will have a storage capacity of 300 MWh – enough clean and green energy to serve the needs of 480,000 homes.

Spencer Group Executive Chairman, Charlie Spencer said: “Highview Power is a leading player in helping the UK achieve its net zero targets and is addressing the key issue of energy storage.

“We’re delighted to be involved with this exciting and pioneering project, which promises to reshape the future of renewable energy.

“We have a strong track record of delivering large-scale energy projects and we’re excited to expand our portfolio of works within this field with a project that will play a key role in the UK’s energy transition.”

John Goldie, Highview Power, Programme Director added: “We are looking forward to continuing to build and further our relationship with Spencer Group, which we have developed over the past 24 months during the pre-execute phase of the Carrington project.

“We selected Spencer Group based on their expertise and experience in delivering similar type projects and providing innovative and value-added solutions in engineering and construction.”

Spencer Group’s Civils Division will begin work on site in late 2024, with the plant expected to be operational in 2026.

The Carrington development is expected to create more than 700 jobs, and it is hoped that it will be the first of many similar plants around the UK, with Highview Power already planning the next four larger scale facilities.