Monday, 6 July 2026

Too many battery storage projects have cleared a key stage of the reformed grid connection queue, and UK officials are now asking industry whether to intervene. Energy Minister Michael Shanks and Ofgem infrastructure chief Akshay Kaul set out the concern in an open letter dated April 16, 2026.

DESNZ and Ofgem issued the joint update on connections reform delivery and on how much battery capacity sits in the reformed queue.

Shanks and Kaul flag a high volume of battery storage projects moving through to Gate 2, more than the capacity ranges laid out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

The two officials ask whether further measures should be taken to address that surplus, and point industry to the National Energy System Operator's (NESO) annual consultation on its connections methodologies as the channel for responses.

Gate 2, the point where projects lock in firm connection terms, is where the excess has surfaced against the plan's targets. Views submitted through the NESO process will shape whether the queue rules are adjusted.

Viridi and Budderfly announced a partnership to install commercial battery energy storage systems at 100 Budderfly sites across the United States, according to Solar Builder.

The deployment brings Viridi's commercial battery energy storage system (BESS) products to those sites and marks an expansion for Budderfly and its energy infrastructure platform, per Solar Builder.

Work under the agreement is advancing in California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, according to Solar Builder.

Budderfly is headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, and is led by CEO Al Subbloie, Solar Builder reported. Jon M. Williams is CEO of Viridi.