The Rt Hon Ed Miliband visits GivEnergy

09.40: Touring GivEnergy’s new manufacturing facility

GivEnergy is set to open its custom-built UK factory in April. From this new facility, the company will manufacture its cutting-edge commercial battery storage systems. The move marks a multi-million pound investment in North Staffordshire – while also bringing highly-skilled manufacturing roles to the area.

First on the agenda was a tour of this facility. The Rt Hon Ed Miliband, MP Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero, visited the new Chemical Lane site with his team. Also in attendance was Adam Jogee, Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Here, we discussed UK manufacturing and the role we can play in turning North Staffs into a ‘centre of excellence’ for the renewables industry. We also touched on the role of commercial battery storage in enabling companies to run more sustainably and with improved resilience.

10.30: Touring GivEnergy’s HQ

Next, Miliband and Jogee visited GivEnergy’s Newcastle under Lyme HQ. Here, we could provide a real-world example of how commercial battery storage enables businesses to run cheaply and cleanly – demonstrating our solar-powered EV fleet and the containerised energy storage system that powers the building.

We also delved more deeply into the essential role of home batteries. Our CEO walked Miliband and Jogee through our range of domestic storage batteries – from starter batteries for flats, through to three-phase systems for large estates.

Of key interest was how home batteries empower energy freedom. We discussed, for example, how storage batteries:

We also shared ideas on how the government can take positive action to integrate energy storage into policy – and how doing so combats fuel poverty while supporting net zero emissions.

11.45: Departure, with a view to continued conversations

Just over two hours later, we said goodbye to Ed Miliband and team. We can decisively say that we at GivEnergy are feeling the momentum around home energy storage growing at pace.

We’re seeing more and more tangible engagement from policymakers as they increasingly appreciate the role home batteries have to play in the UK’s clean energy future.

With such valuable conversations at this level, we hope to accelerate our mission of empowering energy freedom for all.