Morning, Thursday, 17th September 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for energy storage policy, regulation and market development in the UK - taking place amidst policy developments and reform relating to Long Duration Energy Storage support, flexibility markets, grid connections and planning.
LDES cap and floor scheme
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss implementation of the LDES cap and floor scheme, following the recent publication of the Initial Decision List for Window 1. Delegates will examine potential implications of draft special licence conditions on technical requirements and revenue management, and issues for projects transitioning through development phases to construction and operation. Delegates will consider what will be needed from the scheme - and from wider flexibility market reform - if storage is to play the role anticipated in broader plans for electricity decarbonisation and system resilience.
Connections reform, market development and investment
Delegates will consider implications of the recent DESNZ-Ofgem open letter on connections reform delivery, including its emphasis on accelerating implementation of connections reform to support project progression - as well as the March 2026 consultation on accelerating electricity network connections, and wider questions around planning, network build and system coordination.
Priorities for market reform and investment conditions will be discussed, including developments in the Capacity Market and Reformed National Pricing, alongside priorities for addressing practical barriers affecting deployment and participation across both large-scale and distributed storage.
Further sessions will assess longer-term priorities for the future storage mix, including innovation, commercialisation and the role of emerging technologies, alongside supply chain resilience, skills, and conditions for strengthening the UK’s competitiveness in global storage markets.
Planning, environment and communities
We also expect discussion to examine planning, environmental and community considerations affecting storage deployment, including siting and permitting requirements, approaches to environmental assessment and stewardship, and engagement with local communities. Attendees will also consider priorities for supporting timely infrastructure delivery while responding to environmental objectives and local concerns.
Overview of areas for discussion
- LDES delivery:
- implementation of the cap and floor scheme following the Initial Decision List for Window 1 - draft special licence conditions, technical requirements and revenue management
- supporting investor confidence as projects move towards construction and operation
- connections and system planning:
- implications of the DESNZ-Ofgem open letter and March 2026 consultation on accelerating electricity network connections
- approaches to reducing delays in the connections queue - priorities for network build, strategic coordination and accommodating rising demand from electrification and data centres
- market reform:
- developments in the Capacity Market and Reformed National Pricing - implications of evolving market rules and revenue certainty for investment decisions
- future arrangements for cross-border electricity trading and wider market participation
- flexibility participation:
- barriers affecting households, offices and distributed storage participation in flexibility markets - aggregation, market access and incentives
- practical considerations for widening participation across different storage models
- regional strategy:
- coordination between national reforms and regional energy planning - implications of devolved policy approaches, including Scotland
- siting, colocation and regional variation in infrastructure priorities
- technology mix:
- next steps for storage innovation and integration, including pumped hydro, liquid air, flow batteries and hydrogen-based storage
- commercialisation pathways for emerging technologies - practical considerations around technology suitability, scalability and resilience
- supply chains and workforce:
- supply chain resilience, manufacturing capacity and delivery pressures - engineering, commissioning and project skills requirements
- priorities for strengthening UK competitiveness and export potential
- communities:
- planning and permitting frameworks, including land use and siting considerations - battery safety, speculative development and environmental impacts
- assessing strategic approaches to community engagement and addressing local concerns
- lifecycle responsibilities:
- circular economy pathways including recycling and waste management - allocation of decommissioning responsibilities
- longer-term environmental considerations, including resource use and end-of-life strategy
