EDF and Puredrive Energy, the authorised licensee and manufacturer of Duracell Energy home battery storage products, have launched a three-month trial to investigate how residential battery systems can support local electricity networks and create additional revenue streams for householders.
Running from June to August 2026, the project will involve around 50 Duracell Energy battery systems across England. The batteries will be coordinated to participate in local flexibility markets, responding to signals from distribution system operators (DSOs) and helping balance electricity supply and demand.
Under the programme, EDF will manage participation in local energy markets, including tender selection, dispatch strategy and market operations. Puredrive Energy will oversee customer recruitment, onboarding and participation.
The companies said the initiative comes as increasing deployment of renewable generation, electric vehicles, heat pumps and battery storage is driving demand for more flexible electricity networks. They also pointed to analysis by the National Infrastructure Commission indicating that wider use of demand-side services could cut required investment in electricity distribution networks by around 15%, delivering savings of up to £7.9 billion by 2050.
The trial builds on Duracell Energy’s existing battery optimisation platform and is intended to support the development of a future Grid Services offering, enabling customers to earn additional income by allowing their batteries to provide services to local networks.
By aggregating multiple residential systems, the companies aim to demonstrate that smaller assets can collectively provide services traditionally delivered by larger installations.
Mark Millar, chief executive officer 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.”
According to the companies, the project represents a step towards bringing distributed grid services into the mainstream and unlocking greater value from residential battery storage for consumers and network operators.
