BESS installation and safety raised in UK government research

A research briefing by the UK House of Commons Library has detailed current regulation, safety concerns and planning requirements for battery energy storage systems (BESS), alongside factors limiting their wider deployment.

The paper, published on 3 June 2025 and authored by Georgina Hutton and Iona Stewart, outlines how BESS facilities are used to store surplus electricity and support renewable generation.

According to the Library, the government aims to increase installed BESS capacity from 4.5 GW in 2024 to 23–27 GW by 2030.

It said that BESS developments are governed by differing planning rules depending on which part of the UK they are located in, and that fire safety is covered by wider health and safety legislation.

The briefing also identifies a lack of domestic battery production and limited access to critical minerals as barriers to development, along with grid connection delays and upfront costs.

Fire risks and incident data around lithium-ion BESS

The UK House of Commons Library briefing reported that while incidents involving BESS sites remain rare, lithium-ion batteries can present a fire risk due to the possibility of thermal runaway.

It explained that thermal runaway can be caused by battery damage and has been the source of documented fires in the UK, including one in Liverpool in 2020 and one in Essex in February 2025.

The Library stated that understanding of thermal runaway has improved in recent years, and newer systems are typically equipped with suppression systems and more fire-resistant battery chemistries.

It added that there is no comprehensive, publicly accessible record of the number of BESS fires that have occurred in the UK or globally.

Guidance published by the government in August 2023 recommends that developers and planning authorities consult local fire and rescue services as part of the application process.

Regulatory framework and safety standards for BESS projects

According to the briefing, there are no laws specific to the safety of BESS sites.

However, the Library said that batteries used in storage systems may need to meet existing product safety standards, especially where second-life batteries are used.

It also noted that wider grid-scale systems are subject to general fire safety and health and safety legislation, depending on how and where they are installed.

In April 2024, the UK government released new guidance on the health and safety of electrical energy storage at grid scale.

The Health and Safety Executive also maintains a dedicated information page for battery energy storage systems, which brings together applicable regulations and resources.

Planning rules and licensing for battery storage in the UK

The Library stated that planning policy for BESS installations differs across the four UK nations.

It explained that in England and Wales, planning decisions for battery storage systems are handled by local planning authorities, regardless of system capacity.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, permission is granted either by ministers or by planning authorities depending on the capacity of the storage facility.

In addition to planning permission, a grid-scale BESS may require a generating licence from Ofgem in Great Britain or the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland.

The briefing made clear that planning is a devolved matter and that national differences in decision-making procedures should be taken into account.

Cost, supply chain, and connection barriers to deployment

The Library identified several constraints on the development of BESS and other forms of energy storage.

It reported that high capital costs, delays to grid connections and a lack of certainty around revenue streams were among the key barriers faced by developers.

According to the briefing, the Commons Business and Trade Select Committee has expressed concern over the UK’s “insufficient domestic manufacturing capacity” for batteries.

The Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee has also raised issues regarding the UK’s dependence on overseas supply of critical minerals used in battery systems, including lithium.

In response, the UK government outlined plans to improve supply chain resilience in the UK battery strategy (November 2023) and the critical minerals strategy (July 2022).

The Labour Government has said it will produce a revised critical minerals strategy in 2025.

Ofgem and the government are also progressing a new cap-and-floor revenue mechanism for long-duration energy storage, with initial project approvals expected by Q2 2026.

Battery safety and planning rules examined in new BESS briefing: Summary

A new Commons Library briefing covers battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the UK.

It was published on 3 June 2025 by Georgina Hutton and Iona Stewart.

The report outlines planning procedures, safety risks and deployment challenges.

The Library said BESS sites support renewable generation by storing excess electricity.

The UK government aims to increase capacity from 4.5 GW in 2024 to up to 27 GW by 2030.

Planning decisions are made by local authorities or ministers, depending on location and capacity.

There are no laws specific to BESS safety, but general fire and health regulations apply.

Two BESS fires have been documented in the UK, in 2020 and 2025.

Thermal runaway is the main fire risk, typically caused by battery damage.

The Library said no public record exists of all BESS incidents in the UK or elsewhere.

Government guidance urges consultation with local fire services during planning.

The Library identified delays, cost and supply chains as deployment barriers.

The UK lacks domestic battery production and relies heavily on imported minerals.

Government strategies published in 2022 and 2023 address these issues.

A cap-and-floor scheme for long-duration energy storage is being introduced.

Ofgem plans to approve initial projects by the second quarter of 2026.