Ofgem boosts long duration storage

Ofgem boosts long duration storage to secure more homegrown energy for customers

Ofgem has today [Friday 26 June 2026] marked a significant step forward in the development of long duration electricity storage (LDES) in Great Britain, moving the programme from eligibility assessment into the next phase of project selection.

Following a rigorous eligibility assessment process, a Minded‑to-Decision list has been published, with Ofgem setting out which projects been provisionally selected to receive support under the LDES cap and floor scheme.

Ofgem has identified 16 projects creating an LDES portfolio which is anticipated to reduce costs by alleviating pressure on transmission and distribution networks and minimising the need for costly investment in new infrastructure or constraint management.

The selected projects comprise four technologies - pumped storage hydro (PSH), compressed air energy storage (CAES), lithium-ion batteries and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) - and are geographically spread across Scotland and England, with one proposed VRFB project selected in north Wales.

LDES refers to energy storage systems that can store and release electricity for long periods, defined as eight hours or more. These systems help balance the supply and demand of electricity, especially when using renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which can be unpredictable.  

Ofgem will now gather stakeholder views on the proposed decisions to ensure they deliver the best outcomes and value for money for business and consumers.