RenewableUK has unveiled a significant surge in the total pipeline of battery projects across the UK, indicating a robust growth trajectory in the renewable energy sector. According to the latest data, the pipeline has expanded from 57GW a year ago to a substantial 95GW, marking a remarkable increase of 38GW, or 67.4%, over the past 12 months.
This surge marks the second consecutive year in which the pipeline has experienced such substantial growth, underscoring the burgeoning interest and investment in battery storage technologies. Operational battery storage capacity has now reached 4.4GW, while projects under construction have scaled to 4.3GW.
Furthermore, an additional 30.4GW of battery storage projects have received consent, with 26GW submitted in the planning system and an additional 30.4GW in early development stages.
RenewableUK's director of future electricity systems, Barnaby Wharton, emphasized the pivotal role of battery storage in ensuring reliable electricity supply, stating, “It's great to see that, for the second year running, the UK's battery storage pipeline has grown by two-thirds within the space of twelve months.”
Despite the substantial progress, Wharton highlighted the need for accelerated development to meet the Government's target of achieving 55GW of short-term flexibility by 2035. He urged for streamlining of the consenting and grid connection processes to expedite the deployment of vital energy storage projects.
Wharton outlined potential avenues for improvement, including reforms to financial support mechanisms to incentivize the co-location of battery projects with clean energy generation sites. Such measures, he suggested, could significantly reduce the cost of building and operating batteries, fostering a more rapid transition towards a greener energy landscape.
The surge in the UK's battery storage pipeline underscores the growing momentum towards renewable energy adoption and the crucial role of energy storage technologies in facilitating a sustainable energy transition. As investment continues to pour into the sector, stakeholders remain optimistic about the prospects of achieving a cleaner and more resilient energy future.
