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Community Energy: Batteries

Asked by Callum AndersonLabourDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 7 July 2026UIN 14277

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of barriers to community ownership of battery storage infrastructure.

Answered by Michael Shanks

The Government recognises that community-owned battery projects can face a range of barriers, including high upfront capital costs, complex grid connection processes, and challenges around onboarding residents.

On 4 June, the Department launched a Call for Evidence on community batteries to gather views on these barriers from a range of stakeholders. This will help inform how Government can best support the scale-up of community-owned battery projects across the UK.

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