By Abbas Nazil
England is considering allowing new homes to be built without mandatory battery storage, a move critics say would weaken carbon-cutting ambitions and increase long-term energy costs for homeowners.
The change is expected to feature in the forthcoming Future Homes Standard, due to be published in January, which will regulate how all new homes are constructed from 2027 onward.
While the standard is still expected to require solar panels on most new houses and mandate high levels of insulation and the use of heat pumps, it is unlikely to compel developers to install batteries.
Experts argue that removing the battery requirement represents a significant retreat after sustained lobbying from housebuilders concerned about upfront construction costs.
Battery storage allows homes to use more of the electricity generated by their own solar panels, reducing reliance on the national grid and lowering household energy bills.
Jess Ralston of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said batteries help households maximize self-generated power, directly supporting the government’s stated priority of reducing energy costs.
She warned that new homes built without batteries could lead to higher bills, greater dependence on imported gas and missed opportunities to use modern net-zero technologies effectively.
Battery prices have fallen sharply in recent years, with installation costs estimated at between £2,000 and £5,000 per home.
Research by the MCS Foundation indicates that homes equipped with heat pumps, solar panels and batteries could save around £1,350 a year on energy bills for an average three-bedroom house.
Without batteries, homeowners would lose a significant portion of these potential savings, even if other low-carbon technologies are installed.
The absence of batteries would also limit benefits for the national electricity grid, which could otherwise draw on distributed storage to balance supply and demand during periods of high renewable generation.
This flexibility is increasingly important as the UK relies more on intermittent sources such as wind and solar power.
Housebuilders have opposed battery mandates, arguing that alternative technologies like diverting excess solar power to heat water are preferable.
Industry representatives say developers have supported the transition to low-carbon housing and point out that new-build homes already emit far less carbon than older properties.
However, energy experts say installing batteries during construction is cheaper and less disruptive than retrofitting homes later.
Professor Jan Rosenow of Oxford University described the potential omission as a missed opportunity that would ultimately disadvantage homebuyers.
He said the construction industry has a history of resisting stronger energy efficiency requirements, to the long-term detriment of residents.
The government is also expected to publish a wider “warm homes plan” alongside the Future Homes Standard, addressing insulation in existing housing stock.
Campaigners are calling for clearer commitments to phase out fossil fuel heating systems and reduce reliance on the gas grid.
A government spokesperson said the Future Homes Standard remains under development and will aim to deliver warmer, more affordable homes while supporting the UK’s net zero target by 2050.
