According to the UK's new Land Use Framework unveiled on 18th March 2026, approximately 1% of all land will be required for renewable energy generation to meet net-zero targets by 2050.
However, Dan Burrows, CEO of Eku Energy, highlights that increasing generation alone is not enough. He warns that without urgent investment in storage and grid infrastructure, the UK risks wasting clean energy.
Generation is important, but we're currently generating more than the grid can process, paying millions in curtailment. BESS is key to ensuring we can store the energy that all of this investment into renewable energy generation is creating.
This underscores a critical challenge in the energy transition: without sufficient storage and grid flexibility, clean energy risks going to waste. Scaling battery energy storage systems (BESS), alongside targeted grid upgrades, will be essential not only to maximise the value of existing renewable capacity, but also to reduce system costs, improve energy security, and accelerate progress towards net zero.
At the same time, it is vital that the benefits of this transition are felt at a local level. Communities hosting energy infrastructure must be at the forefront of receiving both the short-term and long-term advantages — whether through job creation, investment, or more resilient and affordable energy systems.
Ultimately, this is a national opportunity, but delivering it successfully will require a fully integrated approach, one that goes beyond generation to include storage, networks, and community engagement, ensuring no part of the system, or society, is left behind.
