08 Jun 2026
The Government has launched a call for evidence on proposals to expand the use of community batteries, which could help households and businesses make greater use of locally generated renewable energy and reduce energy costs.
Community batteries store surplus electricity, such as solar power generated during the day, for use when demand is higher. By sharing stored energy across multiple properties, they could help more people benefit from renewable electricity, including renters and those living in flats who may be unable to install their own battery systems.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is seeking views on how community battery schemes could be rolled out more widely across the UK, including how regulatory, commercial and safety barriers can be addressed.
The Government says community batteries could support a more flexible energy system while giving communities a greater stake in local clean energy projects. The proposals form part of wider efforts to expand community energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Examples highlighted by the Government include a community-led housing development in Bridport, Dorset, where a local energy system combining solar generation and battery storage has helped reduce energy costs, and a trial in a block of flats in Brixton that enabled residents to benefit from shared renewable energy.
For rural communities, community batteries may offer opportunities to maximise the value of locally generated renewable energy. The call for evidence will help inform how such schemes could be deployed more widely and how any barriers to adoption can be overcome.
This call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on 30 July 2026, find out more here.
