en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK energy transition company EnergyPathways has initiated the work plan for its MESH offshore energy storage project after officially obtaining a gas storage license in the East Irish Sea. The company plans to conduct site surveys in the third quarter of 2026 to collect environmental, geological, and seabed data, supporting the next phase of engineering, regulatory, and subsurface studies.

The licensed area can accommodate up to 60 subsea salt caverns for large-scale energy storage. These caverns can support compressed air energy storage (CAES), the transition from natural gas storage to hydrogen storage, and hydrogen production, though all applications require regulatory approval and funding. The MESH project, officially named the Marram Energy Storage Hub, has been designated as a nationally significant project by the UK government, with a target to begin operations in 2031. It is expected to become the UK's largest integrated energy storage facility.

EnergyPathways has welcomed the UK Office of Gas and Electricity Markets' (Ofgem) decision to open a second application window for the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Cap and Floor Scheme, and plans to submit the compressed air energy storage component of the MESH project for consideration. The company's CEO, Ben Clube, stated that the project offers unique advantages in reducing reliance on gas-fired power generation and lowering electricity prices. Once completed, the energy storage facility will significantly enhance the UK's natural gas storage capacity, providing approximately six days of national supply.