By Baroness Luciana Berger, Chair, Energy Storage Association (UK)

It is an honour to serve as the inaugural Chair of this newly established organisation, formed with one simple but urgent mission: to ensure that energy storage takes its rightful place at the heart of the UK’s net-zero transition.

We have made significant strides in increasing renewable energy generation in our country. Our wind farms are world-leading, and solar capacity is growing fast. But here’s the hard truth: we are still wasting too much clean energy.

Why? Because we do not have the storage infrastructure to hold surplus electricity when the sun shines and the wind blows, and release it when it doesn’t. This isn’t just inefficient. It’s absurd and is why I took on this role. This isn’t merely a technical issue, it is a strategic and moral imperative. If we are serious about cutting carbon, lowering energy bills, and boosting energy security, I am clear that energy storage must be central to our national strategy.

From afterthought to strategic asset
A resilient, decarbonised energy system cannot rely on generation alone. Renewable energy is variable by nature, and without storage, we are left with gaps that strain the grid and cost consumers.

Storage technologies, whether lithium-ion batteries, pumped hydro, thermal systems, or hydrogen-based solutions, all share a common goal: store now, use later. The concept is not new. But its time has come.

And yet, storage continues to be treated as an afterthought in policy and planning. If we look at the recent Future Homes Standard consultation. Rooftop solar? Heat pumps? Yes. But storage? No mention. How can we expect to manage smart homes and decarbonised heating systems without the infrastructure to store and shift energy?

This gap tells us everything. The Energy Storage Association (ESA) exists to change that.

Giving storage a voice
Our goal is to give energy storage the platform and the priority it deserves. We are here to bring together the full range of storage technologies: electrical, thermal, hydro, and hydrogen-based and ensure they are recognised, supported, and integrated across energy policy and planning.

But this goes far beyond the tech. If we want to build a secure, low-carbon energy system, we need to build the entire ecosystem: from standards and regulation to investment and skills.

As our energy systems become more decentralised and digital, the risk of cyberattacks grows. Interoperability and cybersecurity cannot be bolt-ons; they must be embedded in the design of future systems. The ESA is committed to working with government and regulators to set robust, forward-thinking standards.

Storage is not solely an industrial opportunity; it is a job engine. But only if we train people properly. From upskilling today’s electricians to inspiring tomorrow’s engineers, we need quality training pathways and industry-wide competency frameworks. Poor installation doesn’t just harm consumers, it damages public trust.

When deployed at scale, storage can reduce peak demand, cut grid costs, and lower energy bills. Which is both a technical win and a cost-of-living solution. Storage can and must play a role in helping the government deliver on its promise to bring down energy costs for households and businesses alike.

Collaboration is key
We won’t achieve any of this alone. Which is why collaboration is at the heart of our mission. We look forward to working closely with DESNZ, NESO, Ofgem, GB Energy, and others to align industry and policy. We must remove outdated barriers, like restrictive grid rules and inadequate market signals, and put storage on a level playing field with generation and demand-side response. I am clear that storage isn’t a support act. It is a strategic asset.

Our founding members, including GivEnergy, Octopus Energy, Powervault, Sunsynk, and academic partners like Durham and Keele Universities, are already showing what is possible. But they need the right framework to succeed. That is where the ESA comes in: bridging the gap between innovation and implementation and bringing the sector together with one voice.

What’s next?
In the months ahead, we will publish our first Roadmap for Energy Storage in the UK. It will include:

• Recommendations on planning, permitting, and grid access
• Funding and investment priorities
• Calls for cybersecurity and interoperability standards
• Workforce development proposals
• A clear case for storage as a driver of economic growth, energy security, and decarbonisation

Our vision is simple:
A future where no wind turbine is turned off for lack of a battery. Where no household overpays because the system lacks flexibility. Where the UK doesn’t just generate clean energy, but uses every unit of it wisely.

To everyone reading this, industry leaders, academics, policymakers, and investors, we invite you to work with us. Hold us to account. Help us to build a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable energy future.

7th July 2025