Could Microgrids Help Businesses Break Free from an Unfair Energy System?
The UK energy market is under pressure. Prices remain volatile, regulation introduction feels slow to come into effect, and businesses are often left exposed — vulnerable not just to market swings, but to a system that remains unregulated.
But is there a different way for businesses to take more control of their energy future?
A new project led by Newcastle University is exploring how microgrids — self-contained energy systems that combine renewables, battery storage, and local generation — could potentially reshape the way power is delivered and managed at a regional level. The initiative, called VOLT, is focused on industrial sites like ports and airports, aiming to unlock more resilient, decarbonised energy systems tailored to local needs.
Delivered in partnership between Ofgem and Innovate UK, the pilot presents an opportunity to accelerate the transition to net zero with consequences for localised residential infrastructure. But businesses could play their part too.
Why Businesses Should Pay Attention
The same challenges facing regional sites apply to individual commercial and industrial businesses: complex energy demands, a desire to decarbonise, and exposure to an energy market that doesn’t always act in their interest. Add in examples of malpractice by some players in the TPI market as part of a general lack of protection for non-domestic customers, and the case for a rethink becomes even clearer.
Microgrids could offer a real alternative — helping businesses:
- Reduce reliance on national suppliers and avoid peak-time price spikes.
- Improve energy resilience, particularly as more operations go electric (think fleets, heating, and production).
- Meet sustainability targets through cleaner, locally generated energy.
- Take back control of how and when they use and store power.
A Decentralised Future
In a world moving rapidly toward net zero, businesses want to be part of the solution — but not at the cost of reliability or financial survival. Microgrids offer a middle ground: energy autonomy without sacrificing performance.
There are, of course, barriers: up-front costs, planning, and a still-maturing regulatory framework. But as the VOLT project shows, there’s growing momentum to unlock scalable, cost-effective models — and commercial business sites could be next.
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