Battery Energy Storage Systems (Fire Safety) Bill: Second Reading

This private members' bill, sponsored by Liberal Democrat Anna Sabine, proposes new fire safety standards for battery energy storage systems. The bill addresses risks posed by large-scale batteries used in renewable energy projects and grid storage, which have caused several high-profile fires in recent years. Second reading will debate whether statutory fire safety rules should govern battery installations, covering siting, maintenance, monitoring, and emergency response protocols.

Battery storage is critical to Britain's net-zero transition, but recent fires have exposed regulatory gaps and raised safety concerns among communities near storage sites. This bill could determine whether safety standards are tightened nationally, affecting the speed and cost of renewable energy deployment and the public's willingness to accept storage facilities nearby.