A shift in how Britain stores and uses energy could cut emissions, steady bills and strengthen energy security, according to two new reports examining the UK’s path to net zero.
Securing the Transition: A UK Roadmap to Scaling Long-Duration Energy Storage, produced by the Transition Finance Council, argues that long-duration energy storage (LDES) must become core national infrastructure.
The report says storage is essential to balance intermittent wind and solar, reduce reliance on gas, and lower system-wide emissions.
The council estimates the UK will need up to 8GW of LDES by 2030 and more than 15GW by 2050. That would require £10–15bn in committed capital this decade, rising sharply thereafter, but could deliver multi-billion-pound annual savings through reduced curtailment and lower balancing costs.
“As clean energy demand grows, the real gamechanger is not merely harvesting clean energy, but also effectively storing it,” the report states. It adds that effective storage can stabilise consumer bills while supporting a fully decarbonised power system.
Public attitudes explored in Energy in the UK, published by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, suggest growing support for this transition. The polling shows a third of Britons are willing to pay more upfront for energy efficiency if it reduces long-term costs, particularly younger households.
However, the research also highlights limits to public tolerance for higher bills, underlining the need for policies that cut emissions without increasing day-to-day costs. Both reports point to storage, efficiency upgrades and clearer pricing as ways to align climate goals with affordability.
Together, the findings suggest sustainability and emissions reduction will depend less on building ever more renewable generation, and more on smarter systems that store energy, reduce waste and spread benefits fairly across society.
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