08.10.2025
Private Energy Markets: What They Mean for UK Business
In the UK, the conversation around energy has shifted. Businesses are no longer just asking “How do we reduce bills?”, they’re asking a more important question: “How do we take control?” At the centre of that shift is a concept that’s quietly gaining traction: private energy markets.
What is a private energy market?
A private energy market is one in which businesses use, store and share energy across multiple locations in a controlled and optimised way, rather than relying solely on the traditional grid as the intermediary.
Here’s a simple example: Suppose a hotel in the South East of England installs rooftop solar and generates more energy than it consumes on sunny days. Normally, that surplus would be exported back to the grid for a modest return. Meanwhile, another hotel from the same brand, say in Cardiff, is purchasing expensive peak-time electricity from the grid.
In a private energy market, the solar surplus from the first site could be redirected internally to the second site, lowering its grid purchase, reducing bills and emissions. The power stays within the organisation’s own network, managed by smart systems that monitor generation, load and demand in real time.
It’s not just solar either: battery storage, on-site CHP, wind, electric vehicle fleets, all can form part of a decentralised but connected energy network.
Why now? The business case is changing
This isn’t necessarily a brand-new idea, but it matters more than ever in 2025.
The UK grid is under significant pressure: many businesses face long wait times for grid connection upgrades, distribution networks are congested, and non-commodity costs (such as balancing charges and system charges) are increasing.
In parallel, analysis shows that high-energy users are increasingly looking for ways to reduce operating costs through smarter sourcing, not just procurement.
Moreover, recent regulatory and investment initiatives mean more incentive (and more urgency) to use on-site generation, storage and sharing. For example:
Investors are increasingly placing capital into demand-side solutions and flexible energy assets.
Policy outlooks emphasise technology integration (wind, solar, EVs, batteries) and system flexibility as strategic priorities for 2025.
What customers stand to gain
For businesses with multiple sites, decentralised operations, seasonal demand variation or large estates, adopting a private energy market can deliver:
Lower electricity bills: By shifting energy internally, reducing grid purchases, and avoiding peak charges.
Reduced carbon emissions: Because more of the on-site or locally generated renewable output is consumed.
Operational resilience: When you’re less dependent on the external grid, the business has more control in the event of outages or supply disruption.
Better utilisation of renewable assets: Rather than exporting surplus or waiting for grid connection upgrades, you capture more value.
At VEST Energy, we have seen clients reduce their electricity costs by up to 50% by moving from a static site-by-site energy approach to a dynamic, interconnected strategy.
Who should consider this?
Hotels: With large rooftops, seasonal demand and multiple locations, they’re ideal for solar + storage + sharing across sites.
Leisure centres and gyms: High daytime loads, sometimes lower occupancy evenings, making them good candidates for load-shifting and storage.
Manufacturing and warehouse operators: Often own large estates with significant energy use, but maybe not evenly across time or location. Linking sites can drive optimisation.
Portfolio owners / offices: Especially those shifting toward all-electric heating and EV charging, sharing energy across buildings can create efficiencies.
What it doesn’t mean
Implementing a private energy market does not mean disconnecting from the grid altogether. Rather, it means using the grid as a backup, not the primary tool for balancing your energy supply and demand.
It also doesn’t mean plugging in any system without thought. Success requires: good data, accurate metering, the right technology, and a partner who can manage end-to-end (from feasibility to commissioning to operation).
Regulatory and commercial considerations
Internal energy sharing (across sites owned by the same legal entity) is fully permissible in the UK and increasingly used.
Peer-to-peer trading (selling energy between separate legal entities) is more complex and still evolving.
Businesses need to understand their load profiles, model ROI, ensure metering & monitoring are accurate, and build flexibility into their contracts.
Capital cost has been a barrier: many businesses point to high upfront investment as the #1 barrier to delivering energy goals.
Why now matters
With energy bills still elevated compared to pre-2021 levels, volatility continuing and regulatory pressure increasing, businesses can’t afford to wait.
Put simply: the transition to net zero won’t be achieved by national infrastructure alone. It will depend on how businesses power their own buildings, balance their own loads and use their own assets to support their operations.
Private energy markets represent a new frontier in that journey, they put control (quite literally) back into the hands of the organisations and businesses driving change.
How we at VEST Energy can help
At VEST, we specialise in making private energy markets workable, not just technically, but commercially. We start with your energy data and goals, model the optimal solution, deploy the right battery storage and control systems, manage installation, and operate on an ongoing basis.
We also offer zero-upfront capital models (such as our GreenBattery offering) to help you unlock the benefits of storage and generation without significant capex.
We work with customers across the North East and UK wider to rethink how they generate and consume energy. As more businesses look for smarter ways to respond to rising costs and regulatory pressure, private energy markets are becoming a core part of that conversation.
Key take-away
If you’re a business leader, energy manager or sustainability director looking for a better way to manage energy across multiple sites, now is the time to explore private energy markets. The combination of technical readiness, regulatory momentum and commercial pressure means the window is open, but it won’t stay that way forever.
Ready to take control of your energy future? Contact us to explore how a private energy market could unlock savings, sustainability and resilience for your organisation.
In the UK, the conversation around energy has shifted. Businesses are no longer just asking “How do we reduce bills?”, they’re asking a more important question: “How do we take control?” At the centre of that shift is a concept that’s quietly gaining traction: private energy markets.
What is a private energy market?
A private energy market is one in which businesses use, store and share energy across multiple locations in a controlled and optimised way, rather than relying solely on the traditional grid as the intermediary.
Here’s a simple example: Suppose a hotel in the South East of England installs rooftop solar and generates more energy than it consumes on sunny days. Normally, that surplus would be exported back to the grid for a modest return. Meanwhile, another hotel from the same brand, say in Cardiff, is purchasing expensive peak-time electricity from the grid.
In a private energy market, the solar surplus from the first site could be redirected internally to the second site, lowering its grid purchase, reducing bills and emissions. The power stays within the organisation’s own network, managed by smart systems that monitor generation, load and demand in real time.
It’s not just solar either: battery storage, on-site CHP, wind, electric vehicle fleets, all can form part of a decentralised but connected energy network.
Why now? The business case is changing
This isn’t necessarily a brand-new idea, but it matters more than ever in 2025.
The UK grid is under significant pressure: many businesses face long wait times for grid connection upgrades, distribution networks are congested, and non-commodity costs (such as balancing charges and system charges) are increasing.
In parallel, analysis shows that high-energy users are increasingly looking for ways to reduce operating costs through smarter sourcing, not just procurement.
Moreover, recent regulatory and investment initiatives mean more incentive (and more urgency) to use on-site generation, storage and sharing. For example:
Investors are increasingly placing capital into demand-side solutions and flexible energy assets.
Policy outlooks emphasise technology integration (wind, solar, EVs, batteries) and system flexibility as strategic priorities for 2025.
What customers stand to gain
For businesses with multiple sites, decentralised operations, seasonal demand variation or large estates, adopting a private energy market can deliver:
Lower electricity bills: By shifting energy internally, reducing grid purchases, and avoiding peak charges.
Reduced carbon emissions: Because more of the on-site or locally generated renewable output is consumed.
Operational resilience: When you’re less dependent on the external grid, the business has more control in the event of outages or supply disruption.
Better utilisation of renewable assets: Rather than exporting surplus or waiting for grid connection upgrades, you capture more value.
At VEST Energy, we have seen clients reduce their electricity costs by up to 50% by moving from a static site-by-site energy approach to a dynamic, interconnected strategy.
Who should consider this?
Hotels: With large rooftops, seasonal demand and multiple locations, they’re ideal for solar + storage + sharing across sites.
Leisure centres and gyms: High daytime loads, sometimes lower occupancy evenings, making them good candidates for load-shifting and storage.
Manufacturing and warehouse operators: Often own large estates with significant energy use, but maybe not evenly across time or location. Linking sites can drive optimisation.
Portfolio owners / offices: Especially those shifting toward all-electric heating and EV charging, sharing energy across buildings can create efficiencies.
What it doesn’t mean
Implementing a private energy market does not mean disconnecting from the grid altogether. Rather, it means using the grid as a backup, not the primary tool for balancing your energy supply and demand.
It also doesn’t mean plugging in any system without thought. Success requires: good data, accurate metering, the right technology, and a partner who can manage end-to-end (from feasibility to commissioning to operation).
Regulatory and commercial considerations
Internal energy sharing (across sites owned by the same legal entity) is fully permissible in the UK and increasingly used.
Peer-to-peer trading (selling energy between separate legal entities) is more complex and still evolving.
Businesses need to understand their load profiles, model ROI, ensure metering & monitoring are accurate, and build flexibility into their contracts.
Capital cost has been a barrier: many businesses point to high upfront investment as the #1 barrier to delivering energy goals.
Why now matters
With energy bills still elevated compared to pre-2021 levels, volatility continuing and regulatory pressure increasing, businesses can’t afford to wait.
Put simply: the transition to net zero won’t be achieved by national infrastructure alone. It will depend on how businesses power their own buildings, balance their own loads and use their own assets to support their operations.
Private energy markets represent a new frontier in that journey, they put control (quite literally) back into the hands of the organisations and businesses driving change.
How we at VEST Energy can help
At VEST, we specialise in making private energy markets workable, not just technically, but commercially. We start with your energy data and goals, model the optimal solution, deploy the right battery storage and control systems, manage installation, and operate on an ongoing basis.
We also offer zero-upfront capital models (such as our GreenBattery offering) to help you unlock the benefits of storage and generation without significant capex.
We work with customers across the North East and UK wider to rethink how they generate and consume energy. As more businesses look for smarter ways to respond to rising costs and regulatory pressure, private energy markets are becoming a core part of that conversation.
Key take-away
If you’re a business leader, energy manager or sustainability director looking for a better way to manage energy across multiple sites, now is the time to explore private energy markets. The combination of technical readiness, regulatory momentum and commercial pressure means the window is open, but it won’t stay that way forever.
Ready to take control of your energy future? Contact us to explore how a private energy market could unlock savings, sustainability and resilience for your organisation.
In the UK, the conversation around energy has shifted. Businesses are no longer just asking “How do we reduce bills?”, they’re asking a more important question: “How do we take control?” At the centre of that shift is a concept that’s quietly gaining traction: private energy markets.
What is a private energy market?
A private energy market is one in which businesses use, store and share energy across multiple locations in a controlled and optimised way, rather than relying solely on the traditional grid as the intermediary.
Here’s a simple example: Suppose a hotel in the South East of England installs rooftop solar and generates more energy than it consumes on sunny days. Normally, that surplus would be exported back to the grid for a modest return. Meanwhile, another hotel from the same brand, say in Cardiff, is purchasing expensive peak-time electricity from the grid.
In a private energy market, the solar surplus from the first site could be redirected internally to the second site, lowering its grid purchase, reducing bills and emissions. The power stays within the organisation’s own network, managed by smart systems that monitor generation, load and demand in real time.
It’s not just solar either: battery storage, on-site CHP, wind, electric vehicle fleets, all can form part of a decentralised but connected energy network.
Why now? The business case is changing
This isn’t necessarily a brand-new idea, but it matters more than ever in 2025.
The UK grid is under significant pressure: many businesses face long wait times for grid connection upgrades, distribution networks are congested, and non-commodity costs (such as balancing charges and system charges) are increasing.
In parallel, analysis shows that high-energy users are increasingly looking for ways to reduce operating costs through smarter sourcing, not just procurement.
Moreover, recent regulatory and investment initiatives mean more incentive (and more urgency) to use on-site generation, storage and sharing. For example:
Investors are increasingly placing capital into demand-side solutions and flexible energy assets.
Policy outlooks emphasise technology integration (wind, solar, EVs, batteries) and system flexibility as strategic priorities for 2025.
What customers stand to gain
For businesses with multiple sites, decentralised operations, seasonal demand variation or large estates, adopting a private energy market can deliver:
Lower electricity bills: By shifting energy internally, reducing grid purchases, and avoiding peak charges.
Reduced carbon emissions: Because more of the on-site or locally generated renewable output is consumed.
Operational resilience: When you’re less dependent on the external grid, the business has more control in the event of outages or supply disruption.
Better utilisation of renewable assets: Rather than exporting surplus or waiting for grid connection upgrades, you capture more value.
At VEST Energy, we have seen clients reduce their electricity costs by up to 50% by moving from a static site-by-site energy approach to a dynamic, interconnected strategy.
Who should consider this?
Hotels: With large rooftops, seasonal demand and multiple locations, they’re ideal for solar + storage + sharing across sites.
Leisure centres and gyms: High daytime loads, sometimes lower occupancy evenings, making them good candidates for load-shifting and storage.
Manufacturing and warehouse operators: Often own large estates with significant energy use, but maybe not evenly across time or location. Linking sites can drive optimisation.
Portfolio owners / offices: Especially those shifting toward all-electric heating and EV charging, sharing energy across buildings can create efficiencies.
What it doesn’t mean
Implementing a private energy market does not mean disconnecting from the grid altogether. Rather, it means using the grid as a backup, not the primary tool for balancing your energy supply and demand.
It also doesn’t mean plugging in any system without thought. Success requires: good data, accurate metering, the right technology, and a partner who can manage end-to-end (from feasibility to commissioning to operation).
Regulatory and commercial considerations
Internal energy sharing (across sites owned by the same legal entity) is fully permissible in the UK and increasingly used.
Peer-to-peer trading (selling energy between separate legal entities) is more complex and still evolving.
Businesses need to understand their load profiles, model ROI, ensure metering & monitoring are accurate, and build flexibility into their contracts.
Capital cost has been a barrier: many businesses point to high upfront investment as the #1 barrier to delivering energy goals.
Why now matters
With energy bills still elevated compared to pre-2021 levels, volatility continuing and regulatory pressure increasing, businesses can’t afford to wait.
Put simply: the transition to net zero won’t be achieved by national infrastructure alone. It will depend on how businesses power their own buildings, balance their own loads and use their own assets to support their operations.
Private energy markets represent a new frontier in that journey, they put control (quite literally) back into the hands of the organisations and businesses driving change.
How we at VEST Energy can help
At VEST, we specialise in making private energy markets workable, not just technically, but commercially. We start with your energy data and goals, model the optimal solution, deploy the right battery storage and control systems, manage installation, and operate on an ongoing basis.
We also offer zero-upfront capital models (such as our GreenBattery offering) to help you unlock the benefits of storage and generation without significant capex.
We work with customers across the North East and UK wider to rethink how they generate and consume energy. As more businesses look for smarter ways to respond to rising costs and regulatory pressure, private energy markets are becoming a core part of that conversation.
Key take-away
If you’re a business leader, energy manager or sustainability director looking for a better way to manage energy across multiple sites, now is the time to explore private energy markets. The combination of technical readiness, regulatory momentum and commercial pressure means the window is open, but it won’t stay that way forever.
Ready to take control of your energy future? Contact us to explore how a private energy market could unlock savings, sustainability and resilience for your organisation.
