UK Unveils Major £452 Million Boost for Cutting-Edge Battery Research

The UK Government has just pledged £452 million to a new Battery Innovation Programme, aimed at bringing cutting-edge battery technologies closer to commercial reality, especially in sectors such as transport. Announced by the Department for Business and Trade and funded through Innovate UK, the programme is a key component of the government's broader industrial strategy, targeting advanced manufacturing.

Running from April 2026 through March 2030, the initiative will support the development of next-generation battery types, including solid-state, lithium-sulfur, and sodium-ion. But this isn’t just about research. The programme also aims to boost homegrown capabilities in battery design, manufacturing, and recycling.

Three key players will drive delivery: the Faraday Institution will handle academic research, Innovate UK will oversee business-led innovation, and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre will support technology scale-up and workforce development.

The government hopes the investment will do more than fund R&D. The goal is to foster deeper collaboration between academia and industry, attract private capital, and establish a resilient, domestic battery supply chain.

This move comes at a critical time. UKRI recently warned that without immediate expansion in battery production, the UK could face a 55 gigawatt-hour shortfall by 2035. In other words, the clock is ticking.

The new programme will also include funding mechanisms to support tech transfer and attract investors. Specifics on those are expected soon.

Battery Innovation Programme’s deputy director Ben Walsh said: “Today’s announcement will help accelerate growth in the UK’s battery sector and shows the innovation community the UK Government’s commitment to the sector.

“The programme will continue to grow a thriving, energised battery innovation ecosystem, ensuring the UK becomes a world leader in the sustainable design, manufacture and use of batteries.”

This announcement builds on the momentum of the Faraday Battery Challenge, which has already backed over 100 startups and helped shape a £3.2 billion battery ecosystem.

Faraday Institution’s chief executive Martin Freer said: “The UK’s sustained investment in research at its world-leading universities is unlocking transformative battery discoveries that, when translated into industry, will drive major advances in performance across multiple sectors.

“By supporting the Faraday Institution and the Battery Innovation Programme, this commitment ensures that breakthroughs move from the lab to commercial application, fuelling economic growth and creating high-value jobs for the future.”

Globally, the UK currently ranks fourth in venture capital investment for EV battery tech. That’s no small feat.

Looking ahead, Britain’s energy demands are soaring. The National Energy System Operator forecasts the country will need at least 50 gigawatts of energy storage power capacity, and nearly 200 gigawatt-hours of total storage, by 2050. Batteries will play a big part in filling that gap.

Currently, more than seven gigawatt-hours of grid-scale battery storage capacity are already online in the UK. And that's just the start. With new battery technologies maturing and EV gigafactories in the pipeline for locations such as Somerset, Coventry, and Sunderland, the country appears poised to turn ambition into infrastructure.