Select committee: Science and Technology Committee
Conclusion 6
1st report - Battery strategy goes flat: Net-zero target at risk
Published 27 Jul 2021
Paragraph 57
Science and Technology Committee Role of batteries and fuel cells in achieving Net Zero All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
In order to decarbonise the electricity system by 2035 and to meet at least a doubling of demand by 2050, there need to be large upgrades to network capacity, smart controls need to be implemented, and a wide array of storage technologies must be deployed. Without batteries of different scales and potentially fuel cells drawing on stored hydrogen, increasing amounts of renewable energy will be wasted. Without smart operation and storage, the costs of grid expansion will be significantly higher. For larger grid-connected batteries, there is merit in developing alternatives such as sodium-ion and flow batteries. For smaller batteries in homes and businesses, there will need to be more sophisticated tariffs and control systems to optimise the benefits. To provide inter-seasonal storage, there may be a need for grid-scale fuel cells to be deployed as part of the UK’s wider hydrogen strategy.
From: Science and Technology Committee, 1st report - Battery strategy goes flat: Net-zero target at risk, paragraph 57, 27 July 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 27 September 2021 (deadline 27 September 2021).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government sets out support already in place or planned across batteries, charging, freight and hydrogen, and ties future battery research funding to the Spending Review 2021.
- On supply chains, it states it is "committed to supporting the automotive sector", with £500m of the Automotive Transformation Fund available over four years as the first part of "up to £1 billion".
- On charging, it says it "recognise[s] the need to accelerate" the public network, will provide £1.3 billion over four years, and will publish an EV Infrastructure Strategy "later this year".
- On HGVs, the consultation closed on 3 September and it is analysing responses; it "intend[s] to announce phase out dates as soon as possible".
- On fuel cells, it says technology development is "at an earlier stage than in batteries" and that intervention to date has focused on supporting earlier development.