The new framework reinforces a familiar message for the solar sector: space is not the issue. At the same time, battery storage developer Eku Energy says the UK risks wasting clean electricity without faster investment in storage and grid infrastructure, even as the land policy clears the way for further solar expansion.
Eku Energy develops, owns and operates grid-scale battery storage projects, with assets across the UK and internationally. In the UK, its portfolio includes the operational Basildon (28 MW/56 MWh) and Loudwater (around 40 MW/55 MWh) systems, alongside other projects in construction and a wider multi-gigawatt pipeline.
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“Generation is important, but we’re currently producing more than the grid can take, with millions spent on curtailment. BESS is key to storing the energy this investment in renewables is creating,” says Burrows. “Without sufficient storage and grid flexibility, clean energy risks going to waste. Scaling battery energy storage systems, alongside targeted grid upgrades, will be essential to maximise the value of existing renewable capacity and reduce system costs.”
Eku Energy
Land availability no longer decisive
The framework indicates that around 1% of land will be required for renewables by 2050. For solar and its investors, land is not the limiting factor. Burrows points instead to system constraints, arguing that generation is outpacing infrastructure and creating a pressure point for project development. Clearer land policy now supports solar expansion, but bottlenecks are shifting to infrastructure.
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Similarly, the National Energy System Operator has called for coordinated deployment of generation, networks and flexibility to manage higher renewable shares. Burrows’ comments echo a broader market shift: the next phase of solar will be shaped above all by storage and flexibility. (TF)
