Government seeks views on scaling community battery storage

5 June 2026

British households and businesses could benefit from lower energy bills under plans to expand the use of community battery storage, as the government looks to remove barriers to wider deployment.

A Call for Evidence will gather industry and public views on how to scale up shared battery systems across the UK, with the aim of helping communities store locally generated renewable electricity and reduce costs.

Community batteries allow multiple households to draw on stored power, for example by capturing surplus solar energy during periods of low demand and using it later when prices are higher. The approach could improve use of renewable generation and ease pressure on the grid at peak times.

The market for such systems in the UK remains at an early stage. The government says the consultation will examine regulatory and commercial constraints, safety considerations, and ways to ensure benefits reach households unable to install their own storage, including renters and residents of flats.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks says:

“If households are going to feel the full benefit of clean power, we need a more flexible energy system – and community batteries can help deliver it, giving renters and people living in flats the chance to store cheaper renewable electricity and cut their bills.”

The initiative forms part of wider government plans to encourage locally owned clean energy projects, including rooftop solar installations on public buildings. Separate proposals under consideration would require new homes to include solar panels and expand access to plug-in solar systems sold through retail outlets.

Community battery systems are already in use in countries such as Australia, where they are deployed to store excess rooftop solar generation and redistribute it within local networks.