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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/24/household-batteries-will-be-key-to-uks-new-energy-strategy
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| Household batteries will be key to UK's new energy strategy | Household batteries will be key to UK's new energy strategy |
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| The UK will become one of the best places in the world for energy innovation through a shakeup of industry rules paving the way for batteries in people’s homes and across power grids, ministers have pledged. | The UK will become one of the best places in the world for energy innovation through a shakeup of industry rules paving the way for batteries in people’s homes and across power grids, ministers have pledged. |
| Greg Clark, the business secretary, said a more flexible national electricity grid was key to going beyond the quarter of power that is supplied today by renewable sources, and keeping consumer energy bills down by avoiding the need to pay for costly energy network upgrades. | Greg Clark, the business secretary, said a more flexible national electricity grid was key to going beyond the quarter of power that is supplied today by renewable sources, and keeping consumer energy bills down by avoiding the need to pay for costly energy network upgrades. |
| Batteries and the ability for energy companies to automatically reduce domestic and business electricity demand – for example, by turning a refrigerator down 1C when a householder is out – are at the heart of a plan published on Monday by the government and the energy regulator, Ofgem. | Batteries and the ability for energy companies to automatically reduce domestic and business electricity demand – for example, by turning a refrigerator down 1C when a householder is out – are at the heart of a plan published on Monday by the government and the energy regulator, Ofgem. |
| The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy also announced £246m of funding for battery research and development, including the creation of a national battery centre. | The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy also announced £246m of funding for battery research and development, including the creation of a national battery centre. |
| “We know that in the future the potential for renewable energy is often limited by its intermittency. So we know the ability to store the energy ready for when it is needed is key to its deployment,” said Clark, speaking in Birmingham as he laid out the first important steps in the government’s industrial strategy. | “We know that in the future the potential for renewable energy is often limited by its intermittency. So we know the ability to store the energy ready for when it is needed is key to its deployment,” said Clark, speaking in Birmingham as he laid out the first important steps in the government’s industrial strategy. |
| Ofgem said using technology to flatten out peak demand and avoiding the cost for reinforcements to energy networks would save consumers £17bn-£40bn by 2050. The regulator said that the 29 changes to energy regulation announced on Monday, which will come in over the next 18 months, would also encourage new, tech-savvy entrants into the energy market. | |
| Andrew Burgess, an associate partner at Ofgem, pointed to smart appliances that could automatically turn down electricity use at peak times, and make it possible for companies to aggregate the solar power from householders’ rooftops and sell it to local power grids when needed. | Andrew Burgess, an associate partner at Ofgem, pointed to smart appliances that could automatically turn down electricity use at peak times, and make it possible for companies to aggregate the solar power from householders’ rooftops and sell it to local power grids when needed. |
| “For individual consumers, I think the opportunities are for businesses coming in, for the Amazons and Netflixes of the world coming into a traditional sector and offering different ways for consumers to engage,” he said. | “For individual consumers, I think the opportunities are for businesses coming in, for the Amazons and Netflixes of the world coming into a traditional sector and offering different ways for consumers to engage,” he said. |
| The government also launched the Faraday Challenge, pledging £246m on battery research, £45m of which will be used to create a national battery institute, to advance storage technology and bring down battery costs. | The government also launched the Faraday Challenge, pledging £246m on battery research, £45m of which will be used to create a national battery institute, to advance storage technology and bring down battery costs. |
| “Its work will quite literally power the automotive and energy revolution, where the UK is already leading the world,” said Clark. | “Its work will quite literally power the automotive and energy revolution, where the UK is already leading the world,” said Clark. |
| He added that the national battery centre would be a fitting way to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Michael Faraday, the scientist who undertook groundbreaking work on electricity. | He added that the national battery centre would be a fitting way to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Michael Faraday, the scientist who undertook groundbreaking work on electricity. |