It was a whirlwind in Westminster for a few months. The Labor Government has raised some important decisions to achieve its clean power mission – of conclusions about the assessment of electricity market schemes (REMA) and the introduction of reformed planning legislation. For those of us in energy policy, it has been a period of intense focus and momentum.
A lot of emphasis has been placed on the upcoming AR7 auction, but the conversation cannot stop when building more renewable energy sources. Real energy security means thinking that goes beyond generating – and that is where battery energy storage systems (BESS) come in. From balancing to stability, their role is crucial for the energy network of today and tomorrow.
With a British government goal to expand Bess capacity from 6 GW to more than 23 GW by 2030, the sector has itself on a steep and exciting growth process. However, growth comes with growth. As battery projects become more visible to our communities, both public and political interest in how these systems work – and how they are kept safely – has rightly grew. Fortunately, the UK already has a strong Bess safety record to build on. But we can’t afford to be complacent.
That is why Zenobē will work together with Lockton during the Labor Party conference of Labor Party in September to open the conversation. We will investigate how industry can deal with politicians and communities, share facts and take care of it. Because when it comes to clean, secure energy, trust and transparency, it matters as much as technology.
Why we should deal with the concerns of our skeptics
The recent safety debate of the Parliament has reminded us of how important it is to take public care seriously. The clean route map of the government of the NSNZ also underlines that safety and fire risk remain up for many people when it comes to Bess.
What made us think, what do people really think? The Battery Storage Coalition, a group of leaders of the British Bess industry, has conducted polls that demonstrates that less than one fifth (19%) of voters has a Bess site within a miles of their house. That is a strong signal that most people are not against. But they do want to understand what is being built near them and how it is kept safe.
124 Bess systems today work safely in the United Kingdom. Bess is a safe, well -regulated and proven technology.
However, it is not enough to simply point the data. The concerns of people, especially those who live near Bess sites, are valid and if we choose to ignore these problems, we will only feed the distrust. The kind of distrust that we have already seen used by Fringe Voices, including Reform UK who have gone so far to promise to “delete Zero” and introduce a ban on Bess. The truth is that if we want a system with renewable energy sources, we need resilience. That means we need Bess.
As an industry, we should become better at communicating the benefits of battery storage – not only for insiders of the energy policy, but for the communities in which we build. Trust is built by dialogue, not just data, so it’s time we started talking.
Determining the facts concerning the safety of Bess
It cannot be denied that some recent political messages have hit a nerve with voters. Skeptics have used real public fears, but have proposed the wrong solution. A complete prohibition ignores both the crucial role of Bess and the data on the risks.
All British Bess is covered by a robust regulatory framework that is respect by the British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and strong insurer mandates require the approval of widespread global safety standards. Like any form of infrastructure, batteries with risks come. However, safety incidents are rare, whereby the government’s analysis shows that fires on battery locations on gridge were less likely than those in non-domestic buildings in general. The last annual average brand incidence rates show that the fire rates for British batteries are lower (0.7%) than those for wider non-domestic construction fires in England (0.8%). This shows that battery systems are no more dangerous than other forms of infrastructure.
Insurers have played a crucial role in increasing the safety bar even further – go beyond the standards set by the HSE. Their rigorous criteria have encouraged the industry to innovate and invest in ever-safer technologies. Nowadays, 80% of the newly built schedule bowl Bess is now Lithium Fero phosphate (LFP). LFP is a more thermally stable chemistry, which means that it can withstand higher temperatures, a key factor in fire prevention. This progress is important. It shows that the industry does not only respond to worries – it runs for them.
How can we build trust?
As the sector continues to scales on the battery, the technology continues to evolve quickly and that also applies to the policy, the standards and systems that support them. Developers such as Zenobē play a key role – not only in building infrastructure, but also in building public trust, which starts with transparency.
From public meetings in which local councils and parliamentary members are involved in Outreach van Buren and dedicated community benefits funds, support and trust are central to our approach to project development. We offer clear timelines, sketches of building phases and binding to commit for long -term dismantling and land recovery plans, so that the community not only understands it, but also how and when.
The guidelines of the National Fire Chief Council (NFCC) are considered the de-facto industry stand for all BESS developers and local fire services, whereby insurers also oblige further safety standards. As the Bess sector grows, we believe that it is the industry itself, not a static government regulation, which is best placed in the development of frameworks.
We have identified three important areas for the Bess industry to strengthen their efforts: through community involvement, political involvement and cooperation with local fire services.
As we continue, government support will be essential – but it must be the right Type of support. That means making flexible frameworks guided by the industry that can evolve with technology. This approach ensures that the highest safety standards are developed, but also keeps innovation running, unlocking private capital and avoiding subsidy dependence – accelerating the path from the UK to green growth.
Ultimately, the public will not only be earned in Bess with newspaper heads or statistics alone. It will come from openness, action and leadership in the industry. If you attend the Labor Party Conference, join us to be part of this important conversation. The session takes place on Tuesday 30one September 2025 Between 9:30 AM to Madre, 6, Atlantic Pavilion Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AE (outside the safe zone, not a conference pass required). Follow the LinkedIn page of Zenobē for more information about events.
