“In light of the huge economic damage the recent energy crisis
has caused, it is distressing to see that the Government lacks a
clear plan for energy supply risks and indeed is still
deliberating over investment in energy storage to prevent future
crises.”
, Chair of the
House of Lords Science and Technology Committee
A House of Lords committee has warned the Government that it must
act fast to ensure long-duration energy storage technologies can
scale up in time to play a vital role in decarbonising the
electricity system and ensuring energy security by 2035.
The Science and Technology Committee’s report ‘Long-duration energy
storage: get on with it’ (published today, Wednesday 13
March), concludes that major decisions about future energy
infrastructure must be taken and implemented urgently. A
coordinated effort is needed to unlock investment in
long-duration energy storage and to ensure a strategic reserve of
storage is delivered both to achieve Net Zero and to insulate the
UK from future energy supply shocks such as the 2021–22 energy
crisis.
Whilst the Committee welcomes the Government’s recent reforms to
the energy system, such as committing to delivering a Strategic
Spatial Energy Plan, the report raises concerns that it is not
clear who will be responsible for implementing this plan or how
future energy supply crises will be managed.
The report calls on the Government to:
- commit to a strategic reserve in the form of long-duration
energy storage which will be vital for energy security;
- urgently make key decisions and coordinate the delivery of
its energy system plan;
- set an explicit minimum target for long-duration energy
storage;
- set out the details of its long-duration storage business
model;
- clarify the role of hydrogen in the future energy system and
deliver no-regrets investments in hydrogen production and
storage;
- act with urgency and reduce timelines for grid connection and
planning delays;
- engage and communicate with the public to ensure support for
vital hydrogen and electricity infrastructure.
, Chair of the
Committee, said:
“Wind and solar offer cheap, domestic electricity and will form
the core of the expanded and decarbonised grid needed to deliver
Net Zero in the UK. But their generation varies over time with
the weather. Long-duration energy storage technologies are
essential to allow the UK to maintain security of supply with a
high proportion of renewable generation on the grid.
“The combination of renewables with energy storage will enable
the UK to build an economy insulated from dependence on volatile
energy markets and imported fossil fuels. But storage isn’t just
about batteries. Long duration storage that can store energy for
days, weeks and even years will be key, and offers the prospect
of the UK being able to build an energy storage industry.
“In light of the huge economic damage the recent energy crisis
has caused, it is distressing to see that the Government lacks a
clear plan for energy supply risks and indeed is still
deliberating over investment in long-duration storage to prevent
future crises. A strategic reserve of electricity storage is a
critical investment to secure the UK’s energy supply against
future shocks, but the Government is still equivocating over
whether it is necessary to invest in one.
“Since 2023, the Government has had a Department for Energy
Security and Net Zero. Long-duration energy storage is critical
for ensuring the UK can have both, so it must be a key priority
for the Department.
“The Government says it wants to deploy enough storage both to
balance and to decarbonise the electricity system by 2035, but we
are not on track. Long-duration energy storage facilities can
take 7–10 years to build, so action is needed now to ensure the
private sector sees a clear case to invest and to slash planning
delays and grid connection queues if we are to have the required
infrastructure in place by 2035.
“Our report highlights the clear benefits of investing in
long-duration storage, including energy and economic security,
avoiding waste of renewable electricity, and allowing us to
deploy more cheap renewable power, reducing customer bills.
However, time is running out for the UK to secure that brighter
future.
“The Government must take action now.”
