‘More complex trading strategies’ necessary for BESS to be profitable in the UK

energy-storage.news May 22, 2026

‘More complex trading strategies’ necessary for BESS to be profitable in the UK

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · May 22, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

BloombergNEF researcher Sonia Grunenwald stated that operating battery energy storage systems in the UK requires "more complex trading strategies" to be profitable. The UK BESS market is saturated, with a remaining connection queue backlog exceeding the total volume of batteries expected to come online by 2035. A 31% year-on-year decline in turnkey BESS costs may incentivize developers to deploy batteries, but they must contend with complex market dynamics. Grunenwald highlighted the need for advanced revenue stacks, citing the limitations of simple charging and discharging strategies. The UK installed over 14,000MWh of new batteries in the first five months of 2026, driving the need for complex financial mechanisms.

💡 Why It Matters

· Complex trading strategies can help battery operators optimize dispatch and maximize revenue in a crowded market.
· Advanced aggregation strategies enable developers to trade in multiple markets, reducing cycle counts and increasing profitability.

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Neoen Australia signs virtual battery deals for 540MWh Western Downs Battery

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💡 The proliferation of virtual battery agreements like those signed by Neoen Australia highlights the growing demand for flexible energy solutions that can manage the intermittency of renewable energy generation portfolios. As the energy market continues to shift towards more decentralized and variable power sources, innovative commercial structures like virtual batteries will become increasingly crucial for ensuring grid reliability and frequency services.

cleantechnica.com · Jun 18

Trump Pays Off Energy Company in Grudge Match Against Offshore Wind

Donald Trump is paying Invenergy $765 million to abandon its four offshore wind leases, following a pattern of attempts to hinder wind development in the US. This move comes after the administration dismissed its appeal in a legal challenge against Trump's executive order to ban wind development. Trump had previously paid TotalEnergies $1 billion to abandon offshore wind development in March 2026. The deal is under investigation by Senator Whitehouse and Democratic Senators. The Sierra Club has criticized Trump's actions as a "grudge match" against wind power, citing the administration's history of obstructing renewable energy progress. Trump's efforts have been met with resistance from environmental groups and the courts, which have overturned stop work orders for offshore wind farms. The payment to Invenergy is the latest development in Trump's efforts to promote fossil fuels over renewable energy.

💡 Trump's payments to energy companies undermine the growth of offshore wind, a crucial component of the US's transition to renewable energy. By using public funds to favor fossil fuels, Trump's actions threaten to increase energy costs and pollution for American families.

energy-storage.news · Jun 17

Solar Energy Corporation of India invites bids for 4.8GWh of energy storage-backed…

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💡 This tender marks a significant shift towards co-located renewable energy and storage projects in India, aimed at improving grid reliability and enabling greater deployment of dispatchable clean power. By requiring energy storage resources to be charged solely from renewable energy, SECI is promoting a more sustainable and reliable energy mix.

cleantechnica.com · Jun 17

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Fossil fuels account for approximately 40% of maritime tonnage, but about half of the energy used in freight shipping due to their long-haul bulk trades. This distinction is crucial in understanding the maritime energy transition, as shipping fuel demand is driven by transport work rather than just tons loaded at ports. The decline of fossil fuel cargoes will remove a larger share of ocean work and fuel burned, making it unnecessary to find a one-for-one replacement fuel for all of that work. Other segments of shipping, such as offshore wind construction and service vessels, are better suited to electrification and may grow in the transition.

💡 The maritime energy transition is not just about replacing fossil fuels with alternative molecules, but also about reducing the overall energy demand through changes in cargo composition and transport work. By focusing on the remaining fuel-burning work after fossil cargo declines, the industry can identify opportunities for electrification and efficiency gains, making the transition more feasible and less reliant on a universal global fuel chain.

techcrunch.com · Jun 17

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💡 Geothermal energy could beat nuclear fission and fusion to commercial deployment, with Critical Energy's modular turbines potentially enabling gigawatt-scale power plants by the early 2030s. Advanced geothermal could also power nearly two-thirds of new data centers by 2030, addressing the tech industry's growing energy needs.

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💡 Zero-emission shipping reduces environmental impact, particularly in densely populated coastal areas. Autonomous navigation capabilities also enhance safety and efficiency in maritime transport.