Community batteries consultation

Views sought on the case for community batteries as part of the green energy transition.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a call for evidence to gather information on the community batteries landscape. This is aimed at better understanding the opportunities and benefits, the barriers to delivery and how safety can be ensured. It also publicises United Kingdom and international community battery case studies.

Relatively few community batteries are in operation in the UK. However, evidence suggests they make a positive impact on the people who use them by reducing bills. In larger numbers, they could also smooth out demand at network level, potentially replacing other, more costly (or less clean) ways of doing so. 

DESNZ wants to understand whether batteries could and should be scaled up to provide benefits beyond individual users to whole communities, including those that cannot be reached by domestic batteries, for both technical reasons (such as those living in flats) or financial reasons (for example low-income households).

The government would like to hear from a wide range of stakeholders, including:

• electricity network companies
• system operators
• battery installers and manufacturers
• electricity suppliers
• local authorities
• social housing landlords
• community energy groups

Find out more about the consultation and how to respond.

The consultation will close to responses on Thursday 30 July 2026.

First published 9 June 2026