UK housebuilders have reportedly persuaded the government to water down planned environmental requirements for new homes in England.
According to a report in the Guardian, a revised version of the Future Homes Standard due for publication this month is expected to not include a requirement for battery storage, despite falling prices and potential energy savings for households.
Measures that are expected to be included are mandatory solar panels and high insulation standards.
The newspaper noted that the installation of batteries in homes, allowing energy captured from solar panels not used immediately to be saved for later, helps lower energy bills.
Home batteries also provide a significant extra benefit to the wider electricity grid, helping smooth out fluctuations, reducing demand in peak times and providing other stability benefits.
Industry figures have argued against compulsory battery systems, citing upfront costs for developers.
Household batteries for home energy storage generally cost from £3,000 to over £10,000, including installation, with specific prices varying by brand and capacity. The Tesla Powerwall 3, for instance, typically costs around £8,000 fully installed.
Rhodri Williams, technical director at the Home Builders Federation, told the Guardian that housebuilders support the broader zero-carbon agenda but prefer cheaper alternatives to batteries for managing excess solar energy that do not provide as many benefits.
Critics say omitting batteries from the rules is a missed opportunity to improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on imported gas.
Research suggests that a typical home equipped with solar, a heat pump and batteries could save up to £1,350 per year on energy bills.