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MPs say dealing with red tape is key to UK
success in energy storage technology
The UK Government must move quickly to
address regulatory barriers so the UK can
become a world leader in energy storage
technologies, the Energy and Climate
Change Committee has recommended.
Citing the example of California, where
strong public financial support and clear
legislation have been vital in developing
the storage industry and laying the
foundation for the full integration of
storage infrastructure in the grid, the
Committee says storage presents a real
opportunity for the UK.
In their third report ‘The energy revolution
and future challenges for UK energy and
climate change policy’, MPs say there
must be a clear definition for storage, that
double-charging must come to an end,
and a separate asset class for grid-level
electricity storage should be established as
a matter of urgency.
The Government must also review the
outdated Capacity Market rules and
regulations in relation to storage, including
considering increasing the contract
length and addressing restrictions around
stacking of revenues for storage projects.
And in order to maximise the potential
Ministers should set out a high-level
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Chargemaster, the UK’s leading supplier of electric vehicle (EV) chargers, has
welcomed the Government’s announcement of a £600 grant supporting the
installation of dual charging points at workplaces.
“This is great news for companies that have adopted EVs into their fleets, or
wish to provide charging facilities for visitors,” commented David Martell, Chief
Executive of Chargemaster. “There are now more than 80,000 electric vehicles on
British roads – many of those are owned and run by businesses.
“This new £600 grant from Government will allow more companies to install
charging points at workplace locations for a fraction of the cost.”
public commitment to making the UK a
world-leader in storage and set a storage
procurement target for 2020.
The Government should also consider a
possible subsidy framework for energy
storage to accelerate deployment given
the importance of storage to unlocking the
full potential of renewable energy.
MPs say that with the right policy
framework in place the full potential of
demand-side response (DSR) technologies
can be unlocked.
They add: “Getting DSR right will empower
consumers, reduce bills, ease grid pressure,
and lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Without explicit market mechanisms and
target capacity goals DSR will not be able
to deliver best value for consumers.”
The Committee notes that while
COMMERCIAL 22-23
A look at projects across the UK
technological leadership can be lucrative,
this often occurs on longer timescales than
private investment is comfortable with so
there is a role for Government in driving
energy innovation.
It adds: “The UK has world-leading
universities: leveraging these to attract and
retain international talent, and support
innovation throughout its cycle, is crucial
to achieving an energy revolution. The
Government should support efforts to get
the next generation of students interested
in energy research and policy. “
MPs say the energy revolution presents
a huge economic opportunity for the UK
and with the appropriate strategy, policies
and regulatory framework in place, Britain
can become a world leader in the green
technology sector.
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