Ofgem Opens the Door for Long Duration Electricity Storage - and the Race for Talent Begins
Written by Olivia Morgan, Senior Consultant at Brightsmith.
On 8 April 2025, Ofgem launched the first application window for long-duration electricity storage (LDES) projects under its new cap and floor regime. This mechanism has been years in development and is designed to encourage private investment while protecting consumers. It guarantees developers a minimum “floor” level of revenue and limits returns at the “cap,” ensuring projects are financially viable without exposing billpayers to unlimited costs (Ofgem).
The application window was running until 9 June 2025, with Ofgem expecting to make eligibility decisions in Q3 2025 and final awards by Q2 2026 (Ofgem Application Guidance, Technical Decision Document).
This regulatory shift could unlock a wave of storage projects capable of holding renewable energy for days or weeks. These assets are essential to a system where wind and solar dominate, filling gaps when the weather doesn’t cooperate and providing resilience to the grid.
Much of the attention has rightly focused on market design and financing. But another challenge is just as critical - and less often discussed: talent.
Why Talent Matters
Large-scale storage isn’t just about hardware and investment models. Delivering the first projects under Ofgem’s regime will demand a combination of technical innovation, regulatory strategy, and operational excellence. The UK has ambitious goals: 50GW of offshore wind by 2030, rapid electrification of transport and heat, and a secure, flexible grid to underpin it all. Without the right people in the right roles, even the most well-designed schemes can stall.
The projects that come through this window will define not only how we balance renewable energy but also how we compete internationally. And in today’s tight labour market, the ability to attract, develop, and retain talent could be as decisive as raising capital.
The Skills in Demand
1. Engineering and Technical Expertise LDES technologies range from pumped hydro and compressed air to flow batteries and emerging chemistries. Each requires specialist knowledge in design, safety, integration, and scale-up. Engineers with experience in grid-connected assets will be particularly sought after.
2. Policy and Regulatory Specialists Understanding the cap and floor model — and how it interacts with wider energy market reform — is a niche skillset. Professionals who can translate Ofgem’s frameworks into practical compliance and commercial strategy will be critical.
3. Commercial and Financial Professionals Financing LDES sits at the crossroads of infrastructure investment and technology risk. Project finance specialists, power market modelers, and those experienced in structuring long-term contracts will find themselves in high demand.
4. Digital and Systems Experts The true value of storage lies in how it interacts with fluctuating renewables and demand-side flexibility. Data scientists, digital optimisation specialists, and grid systems modelers will help maximise project performance.
Rising Competition for People
The UK energy sector is already grappling with shortages in power engineering, project delivery, and regulatory compliance (Ofgem Energy Futures Survey). Adding a new wave of LDES projects risks intensifying that competition.
Likely scenarios include:
Cross-sector poaching of experienced talent from batteries, offshore wind, and traditional grid operators.
Global recruitment to fill immediate skill gaps, increasing the importance of international mobility.
Escalating competition for regulatory and commercial experts who can manage applications under Ofgem’s scheme.
In effect, Ofgem hasn’t just opened a project window — it has opened a new battle for talent.
What This Means for Professionals
For individuals, this is a moment of rare opportunity. Getting involved in LDES at this early stage means shaping the backbone of a net-zero grid. It’s not just another clean energy role — it’s a chance to set standards, influence market design, and become a leader in a sector poised for rapid growth.
For early-career professionals, this could mirror the trajectory of offshore wind 15 years ago: a new industry where today’s recruits quickly become tomorrow’s experts.
Conclusion
Ofgem’s cap and floor regime for long-duration storage is more than a regulatory milestone — it’s a catalyst for new infrastructure, new investment, and new opportunities. But it also highlights the bottleneck that may ultimately decide success: people.
The projects that succeed will be those that secure the right teams early, blending technical, commercial, and regulatory expertise. And for professionals across the energy transition, LDES is a chance to step into one of the most transformative opportunities of the decade.
The UK is ready to back long-duration storage. Are we ready with the talent to deliver it?
Olivia Morgan is a Senior Consultant at Brightsmith, specialising in battery technology and energy storage recruitment. She partners with pioneering companies across the energy transition to identify and secure the talent needed to scale innovative technologies.
