Government plans home batteries and long-duration energy storage for ‘clean flexibility’

Successive governments have agreed on the need for a clean energy system. But with that need becoming more and more pressing – and households and businesses facing persistently high bills – it should also be flexible as well, according to a new government plan.

Released on Wednesday (23 July), the Clean Flexibility Roadmap sets out ways to support electricity consumers with more options to “take control of their energy”. Schemes will include flexible electricity tariffs and discounts for electric vehicle (EV) drivers who use public chargers at off-peak times.   

The system will rely on widespread introduction of new and currently under-developed technologies, including home batteries, interconnectors, long-duration energy storage such as pumped hydro and liquid air storage, wider use of hydrogen, and carbon capture.

Supporting more consumers to use electricity at off-peak times could boost the efficiency and resilience of the network, a government announcement said, saving up to £70bn on system costs by 2050. 

A resilient renewables-based power system “needs flexibility at its core” to match times when wind are solar are generating with demand, said Barnaby Wharton, director of future electricity systems at trade organisation RenewableUK.

“By embracing smart tariffs and technologies like EVs, modern heating systems and home batteries, and by accelerating the rollout of more grid-scale batteries and long-duration energy storage alongside renewables, we can build a more agile system which can shift, adapt and respond to demand faster. Scaling up our capacity to store energy is essential to strengthen the grid and enhance the UK's energy security,” he said.

The roadmap includes a pledge to explore the use of joint public-private investment to develop long-duration energy storage projects.

“We welcome the commitment to ensure there is an attractive investment environment for grid-scale battery storage, as this is needed to reach the government’s target of clean power by 2030,” Wharton said.

“We also welcome the commitment to work closer with the EU to improve electricity interconnector trading arrangements, as this will further strengthen the resilience of our clean energy system.”

The plan will help bring high energy costs under control for households and businesses, said Layton Hill, vice-president for strategy in the UK and Ireland at Schneider Electric.

“Innovation is necessary to ensure that energy systems can integrate new technologies and meet future demands effectively. A digitised grid – one that adapts to variable energy sources and responds to dynamic challenges – is critical to delivering decentralised energy and flexibility services. We welcome the roadmap's commitment to progress the development of a data-sharing infrastructure, alongside the government's wider support for the digital transformation of energy and industry,” he said.  

“As industries, households and transport electrifies, energy efficiency is crucial. After all, the cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use. For example, consumers can benefit from smart radiator thermostats that, combined with smart mode settings, can heat rooms individually rather than the entire house.”