EDF and Puredrive Energy, the authorised licensee and manufacturer of Duracell Energy home battery storage products, have unveiled a three-month pilot to examine how household batteries can reinforce local electricity networks and speed the UK’s shift to a cleaner, more decentralised energy system.

Running from June to August 2026, the initiative will orchestrate around 50 Duracell Energy residential battery systems in England so they can take part in local flexibility markets, where owners are paid to help stabilise their areas and respond to signals from Distribution System Operators (DSOs).

Recent price volatility and network bottlenecks have underlined the need for a more flexible, resilient grid that can balance supply and demand in real time.

As renewable output grows and technologies such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and home storage spread, demand-side services are becoming central to keeping the system reliable and efficient. The National Infrastructure Commission estimates wider use of these services could trim required investment in electricity distribution networks by around 15%, saving up to £7.9 billion by 2050.

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Under the trial, EDF will oversee participation in local markets — including tender selection, dispatch strategy and operations — while Puredrive Energy will lead customer recruitment, onboarding and day-to-day engagement throughout the programme.

The project builds on Duracell Energy’s existing battery optimisation offer and will inform a future Grid Services proposition, enabling customers to earn extra revenue from their home batteries by supporting local networks. By coordinating a fleet of distributed batteries, the trial will test how smaller assets can collectively provide valuable services to electricity networks while creating an additional income stream for participants.

Mark Millar, CEO of Puredrive Energy, an authorised Duracell licensee said: "For decades, people have thought of the grid as something that delivers power to homes. We see a future where homes actively support the grid via their home storage systems. This trial is about proving that Duracell Energy battery owners can play a meaningful role in strengthening local networks while being rewarded for the value they provide."

John Grant-Arrowsmith, Senior Manager of Flex Partnerships at EDF Business & Wholesale Services, added: "The energy transition isn't just about building more renewable generation. It's about using the energy system more intelligently. Distributed batteries have huge potential to provide support where it's needed most, and this trial will help demonstrate how that value can be unlocked at scale."

The programme is a step towards bringing such services into the mainstream and unlocking the full value of distributed storage for customers, network operators and the wider energy system.