Super DuPPR (Dual Purpose Power Reserves)

The UK has over 2GWh of backup batteries sitting idle in telecoms and other critical infrastructure—enough to help balance the national grid during winter. These reserve power systems, traditionally diesel generators, are being replaced by batteries to cut carbon emissions. But that shift increases demand on local electricity networks. Researchers at the University of Reading have identified a solution: during cold months, when cooling loads are low, these backup batteries could serve a second purpose—providing regional balancing or flexibility services to the grid. Unlocking this dormant capacity would accelerate the decarbonisation of reserve power systems without adding net load to the electricity network. If successful, the project could transform how the UK manages its energy infrastructure, reducing the need for new grid upgrades and making renewable integration more efficient. Most people never think about the batteries that keep phone masts running during a blackout—but this research could quietly turn them into a hidden asset for the entire energy system.