Alanna Loder-Symonds, sustainability director at EQONIC Sustainability looks at the role of batteries.
We live in a world powered by batteries. From the phone in your pocket to the laptop on your desk, these energy storage devices have become so ubiquitous we barely notice them. But beyond powering our personal devices, batteries are quietly positioning themselves as the unsung heroes of our climate ambitions.
Why are batteries essential?
The path to net zero isn't just about generating clean energy – it's about making that energy work when we need it most. Buildings alone account for around 6% of global emissions, rising to 19% in the UK, with most of these emissions coming from heating, cooling and electricity use during peak hours. This is where the battery revolution becomes crucial.
Consider a typical three-bedroom home with solar panels. Without storage, homeowners face a frustrating paradox: their panels produce the most energy around midday when they need it least, while peak consumption occurs during early morning and evening hours when the sun has set. Adding a 10-kWh battery transforms this equation dramatically and has been shown to increase PV self-consumption from 20-40% to 60-80% or higher. Suddenly, that midday solar abundance becomes evening comfort, reducing reliance on expensive grid electricity precisely when it costs most.
The renewable energy sector faces similar challenges on a massive scale. Solar and wind power are expected to dominate electricity supply by 2050, potentially reaching 70% of global generation. Yet these sources remain frustratingly intermittent – the sun doesn't shine at night, and wind patterns follow nature's whims, not our energy demands. Scottish research demonstrates that cost-effective lithium-free batteries could reduce wind curtailment by 30%, transforming wasted renewable energy into stored power ready for deployment.
Transport presents another compelling case. With tailpipe emissions responsible for 15% of global greenhouse gases and 29% in the UK, the shift to electric vehicles becomes essential. Battery electric vehicles already produce 66-69% fewer lifetime emissions than their gasoline counterparts across Europe, and this advantage will only grow as our electricity grid becomes cleaner.
Even heavy industry is embracing battery solutions. SSE’s Ferrybridge site in West Yorkshire, built on a brownfield former coal‑fired power plant, is being transformed into a 150 MW battery energy storage system, capable of powering up to 250,000 homes. This isn't just about environmental credentials – it's about operational efficiency, grid balancing during peak hours and cost control in an increasingly carbon-conscious world.
Making it happen
The transition to battery-powered solutions need not be financially daunting. To help with this, we offer EQONIC+ to our business clients providing leading-edge payment solution and other enhanced benefits to decarbonise buildings without the need for huge upfront costs. For residential clients, initiatives such as green mortgages make sustainable upgrades more accessible.
The UK government's Future Homes and Buildings Standard will require new properties to produce 75-80% fewer carbon emissions, making battery storage not just beneficial but essential.
The bottom line
Batteries aren't merely helpful accessories in our net zero journey – they're fundamental infrastructure. They solve the timing mismatch between renewable energy generation and consumption, enable the transport revolution, and make industrial decarbonisation viable. As we race toward net zero, batteries may well prove to be the technology that turns our climate ambitions from aspiration into reality.