British energy storage battery

The UK's total battery storage project pipeline currently contains a total of 127GW of capacity. Figure 1 demonstrates the amount of capacity at each development stage as a proportion of the total pipeline. 8% of the capacity pipeline in the UK is operational or under construction, with 31% approved and yet to begin construction.

RenewableUK's 'EnergyPulse' energy storage report showed that the total pipeline of battery projects has increased from 50.3GW a year ago to 84.8GW, an increase of 68.6 per cent, or 34.5GW. Operational battery storage capacity has grown to 3.5GW, while the capacity of projects under construction has reached 3.8GW.

As renewable capacity is added to the grid, the need to store and flexibly manage electricity grows with it. This is where the crucial role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) come into play, storing and releasing energy for when it's needed most. We look at what's happening with the growth of BESS in the UK.

As the UK intensifies its focus on decarbonising the electricity system, timely grid access for battery storage will be essential to support renewable energy integration, grid stability and meeting emission reduction targets. Related questions you can explore with Ask NCE, our new AI search engine.

This report will be launched to coincide with Clean Power Grid Conference 2025, 1 May 2025 at the IET, London. Overall though, the breakdown of the battery storage pipeline in the UK indicates a position of growth, with a large proportion of the pipeline capacity in early development, in planning and consented stages.

According to Modo Energy's analysis, the operational battery storage capacity in Great Britain is made up of 141 individual battery units located up and down the country. Their July round up suggested that this diversity in locations is revealing trends for battery operation.