Context

Heat decarbonisation is one of the biggest challenges in the net zero transition. With over 24m homes still reliant on fossil fuels for heat, it’s essential to create routes to market for the low carbon technologies we need to meet the needs of the UK housing stock. This includes opening up policy and regulatory barriers to technologies that aren’t currently eligible for government grants or benefit from VAT exemptions, like heat batteries.

Our activity

We have been working with Thermal Storage UK to make the case for smart, electric heat batteries in UK homes. We have communicated to senior policymakers and parliamentarians the value that clean, flexible heating technologies like heat batteries can bring to households, businesses and the energy system.

This has included a targeted political approach with new MPs, communicating report launches to Officials and Ministers and supporting engagement. To raise awareness of heat batteries with stakeholders, in September 2023 we delivered a Labour Party Conference event with Bill Esterson, Chair of the ESNZ Select Committee on the role of heat batteries for industry, and in December 2023 delivered a parliamentary drop in in collaboration with PRASEG to educate policy makers on how heat batteries can support their constituents, attended by a former Energy Minister, Ofgem, treasury and DESNZ officials, Committee Clerks and MPs.

Our impact

Following months of increased parliamentary awareness of heat batteries – parliamentary mentions up 10-fold in the first six months post election- and continued engagement with civil servants to build support, in May 2025, the Government launched a consultation to extend the primary funding scheme for low carbon heat, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, to heat batteries. This is an incredibly positive step in accelerating the market and giving consumers greater choice over how they heat their home.