UK plans for 22 GW battery storage fleet by 2030

The UK government has included a fivefold increase in Great Britain’s battery energy storage system (BESS) fleet in its plan to achieve clean power generation by 2030.

BESS features prominently in the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) 138-page plan, which calls for a 22 GW fleet in a bid to increase short-term flexibility provision. Great Britain had a 4.5 GW BESS fleet as of December 2024, according Modo Energy figures referenced by DESNZ.

Utility-scale BESS deployment in Great Britain has been a market-led phenomenon to date, and this looks unlikely to change under DESNZ’s new 2030 plan. Policies for grid-scale batteries outlined include the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) and industry regulator Ofgem continuing to work on grid connection reform, the government finding ways to support grid-scale BESS through forthcoming planning reforms, and a commitment to consult with industry on how BESS can be included within environmental permitting regulations.

Obstacles facing BESS deployment include a long grid connections queue. Reform work is ongoing and the Clean Power 2030 plan notes that, subject to regulatory approval, NESO will be given more flexibility in how the connections queue is managed. The reforms are aimed at moving from a first-come, first-serve approach to one that takes greater account of product readiness and system requirements.

There is also potential for revenue cannibalization if Great Britain’s BESS fleet grows too quickly. Aurora Energy Research has warned that battery capacity of 22 GW or more by 2030 is “more than double” the level projected by the market analyst’s own central scenario, adding that this level of competition “could cannibalize asset returns.”

Behind the meter, consumer-led flexibility also feature’s prominently in government plans – with residential storage set to play a key role. A review of charges levied on home batteries and EV batteries that provide vehicle-to-grid services is expected. Under current rules, the consumption levies that make up a portion of household electricity bills are charged on import but are not refunded when electricity is exported. This serves as a disincentive to providing flexibility and the government plans to review options, which will be set out in a 2025 Clean Power Flexibility Roadmap.

On LDES, a cap and floor scheme is coming, potentially as soon as Q2 2025. There will also be changes to the Capacity Market, including new pathways to support decarbonization of unabated gas plants, such as conversion to hydrogen-to-power, and possible multi-year agreements for unabated gas plants that convert to include carbon capture.

The UK government has committed to generating enough clean power in Great Britain to meet total annual electricity demand, backed by unabated gas supply with capacity of 35 GW. The proposed generation mix for 2030 relies heavily on intermittent generation, with 43-50 GW offshore wind, 27-29 GW onshore wind and 45-47 GW solar proposed. Batteries are expected to provide roughly half the system’s flexibility, with the rest comprising 12-14 GW from interconnectors, 10-12 GW consumer-led flexibility and 4-6 GW from LDES assets.