Written question asked by Jayne Kirkham (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 (named day). It was answered by Michael Shanks (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Batteries: Storage

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the compliance of battery energy storage systems with government guidance, particularly concerning risk assessments and emergency planning.

Answer: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) oversees the legal framework setting the requirements for battery developers to manage risks throughout a grid-scale battery’s lifecycle. Government publishes guidance to support meeting these requirements, helping developers navigate standards and recommending best practice such as risk assessments and emergency planning. DESNZ engages regularly with industry via the Health and Safety Governance Group to monitor the safety of the industry, which has a high level of adoption of risk management procedures, including those recommended by guidance.

Secondary information