Chaired by former Defence Secretary, Lord Hutton, the new Commission will address the UK’s urgent need for domestic battery manufacturing across energy, defence, transport, and tech sectors
Lord Hutton has launched a Policy Commission on Gigafactories to support the UK’s ambitions for economic growth and sustainable industries.
This Commission brings together senior cross-party political figures and industry leaders with deep expertise in government, policy, manufacturing, energy and national security. Its members include three former Cabinet Ministers, and two respected industry experts – combining political experience with frontline sector knowledge.
The Commission will consult with stakeholders from across industry, government, academia, and investors, and will publish its findings and recommendations early in 2026.
The Commission will produce recommendations on how the UK can scale up its battery manufacturing capacity – a critical requirement to achieving net zero, generating economic growth and securing high-quality green jobs.
The Commissioners are:
- Rt Hon Lord John Hutton (Chair), former Secretary of State for Defence
- Rt Hon Greg Clark, former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Chair of the Society of Chemical Industry, and currently Chair of the University of Warwick’s Innovation District
- Dr Isobel Sheldon OBE, CEO at Western CAM
- Rt Hon Baroness Lindsay Northover, Member of the Lords Science and Technology Committee
- Rt Hon Sir Oliver Letwin, former Minister for Government Policy and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, currently Senior Advisor to the Faraday Institution
- Dr Ian Constance, CEO at Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
The Commission comes at a pivotal moment for the UK as the Government negotiates new trade deals and is expected to launch its Industrial Strategy in the coming weeks. From energy independence to electric vehicle production, national supply chain resilience to our trading relationship with China and the USA, the need for increased battery manufacturing cuts across many major policy priorities facing Britain today.
The Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research, skills development, market analysis, and early-stage commercialisation, will serve as secretariat to the commission.
Lord Hutton of Furness, Chair of the Commission, said:
“Batteries are no longer just a tech issue or an energy issue – they are a national strategic imperative. The UK cannot afford to remain dependent on foreign supply chains for such a vital component of our economic and energy future. This Commission will ask the difficult questions and provide bold but realistic and politically deliverable recommendations to put Britain on the front foot.”
Professor Martin Freer, CEO of the Faraday Institution, added:
“Britain has world-class battery science and growing industrial ambition. We are pleased to support this Commission, which is about turning that potential into national strategy – one that boosts jobs, strengthens our energy and tech sectors, and protects the UK’s strategic autonomy.”
Why Batteries Now? A National Priority on Every Front
1.Net Zero and Clean Transport
According to the UK Battery Strategy, by 2040, nearly 200GWh of capacity will be needed in the UK to satisfy demand for batteries for private cars, commercial vehicles, HGVs, buses, and grid storage. UK battery production is critical to the UK’s commitment to phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. Without a domestic battery industry, this transition risks outsourcing jobs, technology, and economic value to global competitors.
2. Energy Security and Grid Resilience
Battery demand is not limited to vehicles – by 2030 grid-scale energy storage will account for 10 GWh of UK battery demand. Next-generation technologies like sodium-ion batteries offer safe, affordable solutions for static energy storage, helping the UK reduce its reliance on international supply chains and support the grid’s switch to renewable generation. Attracting investment in domestic battery production is therefore key to enhancing national energy independence.
3. Jobs and Economic Growth
A thriving UK gigafactory sector could create tens of thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK, including in the Midlands and North East. It would anchor supply chains, upskill workers, and boost regional economies.
4. Defence and National Infrastructure
From electric military vehicles to autonomous systems, battery tech is becoming core to the UK’s national resilience and defence capability. Control over supply chains is now a national security issue, not just a commercial concern.
The UK Critical Minerals Strategy explicitly links secure battery materials to national resilience. Reducing dependence on cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo and lithium processed in China is not only an economic imperative, but vital to ensuring a sovereign capability and military, industry and infrastructure readiness.
5. Trade and Global Positioning
The USA and China’s dominance in battery production have shifted the global playing field. Additionally, Europe is projected to have 1,350 GWh of battery capacity by 2030. And the UK needs to take decisive action, to establish a competitive gigafactory capacity and participating in international collaborations, to position itself as a key partner in European battery markets. The UK must urgently define its own strategy – both to attract investment and to maintain leverage in trading relationships.
About the Faraday Institution
The Faraday Institution is the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research, skills development, market analysis, and early-stage commercialisation. Bringing together expertise from universities and industry, the Faraday Institution endeavours to make the UK the go-to place for the research and development of new electrical storage technologies for both the automotive and wider relevant sectors. Headquartered at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, the Faraday Institution is a registered charity with an independent board of trustees, and a delivery partner for the Faraday Battery Challenge.
Press Contact:
Megan Fletcher
[email protected]
07800789210
