EASE, together with 16 European business organisations, calls Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, and Kadri Simson, Energy Commissioner, to increase system efficiency through the activation of the demand-side flexibility of end-users in the Fit for 55 Package.
19.05.2021 / News
EU-funded project HEROES kicked off in May 2021
The EU-funded project “Hybrid EneRgy stOragE Stations” (HEROES) has officially kicked off on 1st May 2021.
100% funded under EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme with €4,1 MN, HEROES aims at supporting the increased uptake of electric vehicles in Europe, thanks to the development and implementation of more efficient charging stations.
The overall objective of the HEROES project is to develop and demonstrate an innovative Li-ion capacitor (LiCs) based hybrid high-power/energy stationary storage system for fast charging of electrical vehicles (17.5 min for a state of the art 93 kWh electrical vehicle) that can be connected to widespread LV grids, without the need to invest in improving the grid power.
“The HEROES system will be a key enabler for the widespread need for fast charging of electrical vehicles, cost effective and without the need for a major investment in the grid. Given the huge increase in electrical vehicles and their expected importance towards a decarbonised transport system to reduce environmental emissions, the potential impact of the innovation is considerable.
The innovation will take advantage of storage technologies to be suitable for both high power and high energy applications in a way that could not be achieved cost effectively and with acceptable lifetime if the technologies were used independently.
The consortium covers the full value chain of energy storage from technology providers to system integrators and end-users, placing the consortium in an excellent position to develop scientific and technological breakthroughs in the field, as well as seeing market opportunities that arise from novel users” says Dr. Turi Kvame Lorentzen, project coordinator from Beyonder AS.
Given the travel restrictions currently in place in Europe, the kick-off took place on an online basis on 11 May, nevertheless setting the scene for a fruitful collaboration and outstanding results in the coming years.
The HEROES Consortium includes 10 different partners coming from Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Spain and Norway. Organisations include Universities, research centres, associations, technology providers and consultancies.
EASE, together with 16 European business organisations, calls Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, and Kadri Simson, Energy Commissioner, to increase system efficiency through the activation of the demand-side flexibility of end-users in the Fit for 55 Package.
EASE responds to the European Commission’s Public Consultation on the European Grids Package, calling for clearer guidance and obligations on flexibility assessments in planning processes. This includes common methodologies, improved DSO-TSO coordination, and enhanced grid connection procedures. Storage should be considered a standard resource for grid services and reflected accordingly in system planning, cost-benefit analyses, and network development scenarios.
The European Commission has recently launched a stakeholder consultation on its upcoming guidance regarding grid connections in situations where capacity constraints exist. In response, EASE urged reforms to tackle stalled “ghost” projects blocking viable energy storage. Key recommendations include a “first-ready, first-served” model, transparent grid data, and more flexible rules to accelerate the clean energy transition.
On 27 May 2025, over 200 participants attended the webinar on the "EASE Guidelines on Safety Best Practices for Battery Energy Storage Systems". The Guidelines are designed to support the safe deployment of outdoor, utility-scale lithium-ion (Li-ion) BESS across Europe.
Energy storage is a key enabler of the European Union’s decarbonisation and energy security objectives, yet current grid fee structures often act as barriers to its deployment. This position paper outlines critical challenges related to network tariffs and charges that create market distortions and discourage much-needed investments in flexibility.
