RheEnergise, the UK company that is developing a new and advanced form of long-duration hydro-energy storage for worldwide application, has appointed Sophie Orme as Commercial Director.

Sophie has worked in the energy and cleantech sectors for over 15 years, working with early stage and major businesses, including Centrica Business Solutions, where she led the renewables and energy storage workstream of Centrica’s award-winning and pioneering Cornwall Local Energy Market.

At RheEnergise, Sophie will drive the company’s commercial development in UK and overseas markets. Her arrival precedes a third round of fundraising – Series A and crowdfunding via the Crowdcube platform - that will commence within the next quarter.

RheEnergise’s High-Density Hydro® storage system is low-cost, energy efficient and environmentally-benign.  Rather than using water, RheEnergise has invented a fluid, which is 2½ times denser than water, and which can provide 2½ times the power and 2½ times the energy when compared to a conventional low-density hydro-power system that operate in the Scottish Highlands, Wales and across Europe.

The High-Density Fluid R-19™ is pumped uphill between storage tanks that are buried underground. The storage tanks are connected by underground pipes. It means that, unlike conventional pumped hydro energy storage, a RheEnergise HD Hydro system can operate beneath small hills rather than mountains; the system requires 2½ times less vertical elevation. It also means that there are many more sites suitable for RheEnergise projects – in the UK and across the world. 

RheEnergise’s own analysis shows that there are c6500 UK site opportunities, c115,000 in Europe, c345,000 in North America and c500,000 in Africa and the Middle East.

Sophie Orme said: “I’m excited to join RheEnergise at a time when countries across the world are looking at alternative options to strengthen their energy security and achieve their Net Zero ambitions. Long duration energy storage has an important part to play in the future, and RheEnergise’s high-density hydro solution can make a massive contribution.”

Stephen Crosher, RheEnergise’s Chief Executive said: “As renewable energy deployment gathers pace, energy shifting, utilising long duration energy storage, is essential to balance intermittent generation and importantly to keep costs low. Our high-density hydro solution addresses both short and long term national and local energy requirements. Sophie’s work in energy flexibility with Centrica and realising its benefits to distribution network operators and customers will be hugely valuable as we take forward our business.”