Batteries Regulation: Ground-Breaking First Step, Future Legislation Must be Further Tailored to the Whole Battery Energy Storage Sector

13 December 2022: EASE – The European Association for Storage of Energy welcomes the Batteries Regulation agreement reached by the European Union’s policymakers. The Batteries Regulation can transform the energy storage sector and ensure sustainable, safe, durable batteries: EASE applauds this work.

Mr Patrick Clerens, EASE Secretary General, stated: “It is a great opportunity for the energy storage sector. Battery energy storage systems deployment rates are incredibly high in Europe. Battery energy storage systems can replace polluting gas “peakers”, contributing to reducing the need for gas imports and therefore ensuring energy security and a green transition. And this is just one of many applications”.

Mr Clerens also stressed that there is still much work to be done: “Secondary legislation will play a key role in the context of the Batteries Regulation. Batteries used in energy storage systems are different from those, for example, in electric vehicles. It is therefore paramount to ensure that secondary legislation is designed having in mind energy storage’s unique characteristics and applications. Otherwise, we risk creating barriers and hinder the energy storage sector, ultimately hurting consumers”.

Mr Clerens concluded: “The European Union can become a leader in battery energy storage, having forward-thinking legislation, research & innovation, and industrial initiatives. But what is also needed is a clear strategy for energy storage - including 2030, 2050 targets. This will give long-term signals to those investors looking at (battery) energy storage systems and convince them the European Union is the place to deploy capital.”