Innovate UK has launched a £3 million funding competition to support the development of electrochemical ultra-long-duration energy storage (ULDES) technologies capable of delivering more than 100 hours of continuous electricity discharge to the UK grid. Phase 1 funding will support project development studies covering technology assessment, engineering design, market analysis, manufacturing and supply chain planning, cost modelling and scale-up roadmaps. A second competition, scheduled to launch in mid-2027, is expected to allocate at least £10 million to support large-scale ULDES demonstration projects. Focus on UK manufacturingThe competition aims to strengthen UK capabilities in the development, scale-up and manufacture of electrochemical ULDES technologies while supporting future domestic deployment. Projects must be delivered in the UK, with participating organisations expected to exploit project outcomes domestically and spend the majority of grant funding within the UK.