18.10.2024 /

Energy Leaders Highlight the Critical Role of Storage in the Energy Transition

Energy Leaders Highlight the Critical Role of Storage in the Energy Transition

18 October 2024: The Energy Storage Global Conference 2024 (ESGC), organised in Brussels by EASE – The European Association for Storage of Energy, as a hybrid event, on 15 – 17 October, gathered over 400 energy storage stakeholders and covered energy storage policies, markets, and technologies.

Experts from across the energy industry emphasise the importance of energy storage to enhance grid flexibility, support renewable integration, and promote industry decarbonisation.

Throughout the conference, speakers emphasised that energy storage is no longer a secondary technology but a central enabler of Europe’s future energy system. Various energy storage technologies were identified as critical for providing flexibility at different time intervals, from daily to seasonal.

David Post, EASE President and Head of Global Integrated BD at Enel X, highlighted the growing investment in energy storage across Europe. “We’re witnessing unprecedented levels of investment, with countries betting big on energy storage as a key enabler of the energy transition,” he said. “As costs continue to decline, the potential for energy storage by 2030 is truly transformative.”

Experts agreed that energy storage will be crucial for balancing the increasing share of renewable energy on the grid while maintaining the security of supply. Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, MEP at the European Parliament, pointed out, “Storage is fundamental for ensuring the security of supply and providing the flexibility needed to fully decarbonise our electricity systems.”

The conference also addressed the regulatory hurdles that still impede the rapid deployment of energy storage. Although Europe has made significant progress, issues around financing, permitting delays, and market design remain key challenges. Julia Majewska, Case Handler Officer at the European Commission, stated, “Public support can play a role, but it must be carefully designed to avoid distorting competition. It’s crucial that it complements regulatory reforms rather than replacing them.”

Hybrid energy storage projects, combining renewable energy sources with storage, were another focal point of the discussions. The co-location of energy storage systems with renewable generation, particularly solar and wind, was identified as an efficient way to optimise infrastructure and streamline project permitting. However, speakers noted that such hybrid setups require careful design and management to ensure long-term success.

Piotr Szymański, Director of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), highlighted the transformative role of prosumers—individuals who both consume and produce energy—in Europe’s energy system. He emphasised that integrating energy storage at the household and local level could unlock new efficiencies and drive deeper grid decarbonisation.

The issue of grid congestion was raised by several participants, who highlighted the increasing need for storage to support Europe’s energy infrastructure. Energy storage was praised for its potential to ease grid congestion, reduce curtailment of renewable energy, and provide multiple services to the grid while reducing overall costs.

Catherine Vigneron, representing CEN-CENELEC, reinforced the need for standardised safety regulations, noting that while for example battery safety standards exist, their use remains voluntary within the European Union. She urged policymakers to prioritise the adoption of these standards to ensure uniform safety across the region.

Michael Lippert, Director Innovation and Solutions at SAFT, summarised the sentiment across the energy sector: “Energy storage is no longer optional—it’s an essential part of a resilient and decarbonised energy system. Without storage, Europe’s renewable energy targets are at risk.”

The event concluded with a call for greater collaboration between policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to accelerate the deployment of energy storage. Removing financial and regulatory barriers, as well as fostering innovation, were identified as key to unlocking the full potential of energy storage and ensuring its critical role in Europe’s decarbonisation journey.

To learn more about the ESGC, visit www.esgc.org

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

09.10.2024 /

Open Letter: The EU Needs an Ambitious Investment Plan

Open Letter: The EU Needs an Ambitious Investment Plan

EASE , along with 46 businesses, civil society organisations, associations and investors, urge you as Commissioner-designates to prioritise investments in Europe’s green and just transition to sustain the region’s competitive sustainability. A robust EU investment plan is essential to meet the EU climate and biodiversity goals under the European Green Deal.

Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and extreme weather events compromise food, water and energy security, as well as financial stability and social cohesion. Without decisive action, climate risks, exacerbated by biodiversity loss, will severely impact European businesses, jeopardising long-term prosperity, employment, and working conditions.

Europe must swiftly mobilise significant public and private resources to limit global warming to 1.5°C, preserve biodiversity and ecosystems, and avert the catastrophic impacts of climate change. However, the EU currently lacks a long-term plan to drive green and social investment. Without a clear strategy, the EU risks losing its competitive edge and undermining the future success of the Clean Industrial Deal.

Climate and nature action presents a significant economic opportunity for Europe and its businesses. A sound investment agenda must underpin an ambitious industrial strategy centred on climate neutrality and resilience. This is a prerequisite for the Union to lead in developing nature-based solutions and building industrial value chains that align with social needs, good governance and planetary boundaries.

A predictable and stable regulatory framework is crucial to attract private investments. Maintaining, implementing and enforcing EU environmental and climate laws is of paramount importance as businesses require certainty to integrate climate action and circularity into their strategies and to roll out the most efficient emission reduction technologies and pollution prevention techniques. Investors need stability to reap benefits from sustainable investments and to mitigate the growing financial risks posed by climate change and ecosystem loss.

Alongside unlocking private investments, public investment is essential to steer a just transition and crowd in private capital. Targeted support for economic operators should bolster investments in industrial transformation and nature-based solutions, ensuring a level playing field across Europe. Public funds should be used wisely, with access granted to businesses committed to genuine decarbonization and taking meaningful steps in their decarbonisation pathways.

We urgently need a major EU investment plan to deliver on competitive sustainability. A greener EU budget and a successor to the Next Generation EU programme must stand at the heart of a comprehensive investment package. EU funds, public banks and national budgets can collectively catalyse investments in the green transition, build sustainable infrastructure and restore nature.

The new mandate of the European Commission is a golden opportunity to invest in our collective future and avoid the costs of inaction. The time has come for the EU to accelerate its transition to a climate-neutral, zero-pollution and nature[1]positive future for the benefit of climate, people and the economy.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

07.10.2024 /

Welcome on Board Alpiq

Welcome on Board Alpiq

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Alpiq who joined EASE in September 2024. Lukas Gresnigt, Head Business Division International at Alpiq and Antonio Zecchino, Lead Storage Developer at Alpiq, accepted to discuss with us the expertise of Alpiq, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Mr Gresnigt and Mr Zecchino, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very happy to have Alpiq among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarise the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

Lukas Gresnigt: Energy storage and the operation and optimization of storage facilities is in Alpiq’s DNA. Alpiq has a long tradition as owner and operator of hydropower plants in the Alps. Optimizing the storage capacity of the hydro reservoirs is at the core of Alpiq’s activities. This enables us to provide seasonal storage, filling the reservoirs during the summer and use it to produce renewable electricity when it is needed, especially in the winter months. This contributes to security of supply in Switzerland. The 900 MW/20 GWh pumped storage plant Nant de Drance (Alpiq’s share is 39 %) was inaugurated in 2022 and provides medium term storage; this flexibility enables the integration of intermittent renewable energy, wind and solar. Earlier this year Alpiq announced its first BESS investment (in Finland) and we expect to announce more BESS investments later in the coming months, which will help us increasing our short-term flexibility footprint.

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receive Alpiq inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest from your company to join EASE?

Antonio Zecchino: Alpiq’s interest in the key role that energy storage is playing in modern, greener energy system is the driver to join EASE. In this fast-evolving sector it is important to exploit synergies across several actors along the storage ecosystem, to ensure an aligned advocacy towards all stakeholder and develop common standards to enable the energy storage to live up to its full potential. Encouraging technological developments, set sustainability standards and share best-practices in safety, Alpiq aims to expand its role in energy storage as owner, operator and optimizer, focussing for now on hydropower and BESS. By joining EASE we can play our role to ensure energy storage can live up to its potential in the energy transition.

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

Lukas Gresnigt: The expansion of electricity production from renewables is the key driver to decarbonize energy systems. However, this alone is not enough, wind and solar that dominate the capacity expansion are intermittent and only with enough flexibility can we fully benefit from these renewable energy resources. This requires a whole range of short- and long-term storage systems and flexible power plants. Ember (a clean energy think tank) assessed the need for flexibility in Europe will double by 2030 and needs to expand to 7 times today’s capacity to achieve the 2050 EU targets. Today most flexibility is provided by hydropower and fossil thermal generation. Together with interconnection and demand side management, energy storage needs to provide that flexibility. Within this context, Alpiq is committed to contribute to the energy transition by strengthening and expanding its flexible asset portfolio, with ambitious targets to invest, operate and optimize energy storage.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

01.10.2024 /

Welcome on Board Topband

Welcome on Board Topband

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member, Topband, who joined EASE in 11 June 2024. Mr. Chuntao XU, Renewable Energy General Manager, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Topband, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Topband as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Topband’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

Thank you for having us! We’re equally excited to be part of EASE.

With 28 years of experience, Topband is a global leader in intelligent control solutions. We’ve honed our “1 Cell, 1 Cloud, 3S (BMS, PCS, EMS)” technologies, which underpin our expansive new energy product lines. Our product line has expanded from single intelligent control products to include high-performance battery cells, comprehensive energy storage solutions, and supporting BMS and EMS systems.

With products reaching global markets, we’ve established strong collaborations and contributed to key projects worldwide. Our 15 production bases and over 2000 R&D staff highlight our formidable manufacturing and development capabilities.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Topband to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

Joining EASE is a strategic step for Topband in aligning with leading European energy stakeholders to further the advancement of energy storage technologies. We are particularly enthusiastic about participating in initiatives that focus on integrating renewable energy sources with existing grid systems to create more resilient energy infrastructures.

Our motivation also stems from our desire to contribute to and learn from the collective expertise within EASE. For example, we look forward to international cooperation on the safety and sustainability of batteries. We believe that through collaboration, we can address the critical challenges of energy transition, from regulatory issues to technological innovations.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Topband playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

Energy storage is pivotal in the transition towards more sustainable energy systems. We envision ourselves as a key player in this transition, particularly through our innovations in battery technology and system integration. We are actively establishing cooperative relationships with domestic and international power companies and new energy enterprises, aiming to jointly promote the global green energy transition with industry leaders. Our Romanian facility, with a total planned area of 25,000 m², began mass production in 2023, employing over 1,500 staff, 95% of whom are local.

Topband aims to accelerate its presence in the European market through resource sharing and collaboration opportunities. By enhancing our brand influence, we aim to jointly drive the innovation and application of energy storage technologies with leading industry players.

Become a Member

Don’t miss any policy updates and benefit of special discounts for EASE events. Get premium access to all our services and shape the future of the energy system!

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

01.08.2024 /

New Chief Service Officer Joins Voith Hydro

New Chief Service Officer Joins Voith Hydro

HEIDENHEIM, GERMANY. Since July 15, 2024, Sunil Pandiri is part of the global Board of Management of Voith Hydro. As Chief Service Officer he will continue to strategically expand the company’s service portfolio. The role was newly created in order to meet the requirements of customers and their hydropower plants in the best possible way; making service a priority on top level.

Sunil Pandiri started his career in 2004 as a project manager at Jindal Steel & Power Ltd. in India. In 2006, he joined Siemens and in the following years held various positions in international sales, product management, strategy, operations, and general management functions. Between 2017 and 2019 he was responsible for the global service business for steam turbines. From 2020 to 2022, he was CEO of the Siemens portfolio company Sykatec GmbH. Most recently, he held the
position of CEO Region North Europe & Middle East at Siemens Gamesa. In addition to his mechanical engineering studies, Sunil Pandiri holds an MBA degree from IESE Business School (Spain), a digital diploma from IMD (Switzerland) and completed a Harvard General Management Program (USA).

About the Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services, and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 22,000 employees, sales of €5.5 billion and locations in more than 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe. Voith Hydro Division is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier and reliable partner for hydropower plant equipment. Voith develops customized long-term solutions and services for large and small hydropower plants all over the world. Its range of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all the main components for large and small hydropower plants, from generators, turbines, pumps, and automation systems to spare parts, maintenance and training services and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower.

Find the full press release here.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.07.2024 /

Joint Letter for Rapid Implementation of Granular Guarantees of Origin in Europe

Joint Letter for Rapid Implementation of Granular Guarantees of Origin in Europe

EASE, along with the undersigned organisations, have called for supporting the timely implementation of Granular Guarantees of Origin (GOs) within the established issuing bodies of the EU as a voluntary instrument for advanced clean energy products.

Granular GOs have been enabled and encouraged in the most recent update of the Renewable Energy Directive. As the EU electricity markets and decarbonisation objectives evolve, so should additional attributes of the Guarantees of Origin in ensuring electricity origin tracking and source disclosure to consumers. Granular GOs add the sub-hourly time of production to GOs which only contain the date of production today, enabling the matching of produced energy to consumption on an hourly basis.

Granular GOs can contribute to the clean energy transition in several ways:

  • Verifying Renewable Hydrogen
  • Enabling Enhanced Voluntary Green Claims
  • Further Signals for Clean Flexibility and Storage
  • Advancing Decarbonisation
  • Enabling Enhanced Clean Consumer Hedging
  • Enabling European Digital Innovation
  • Enhanced Corporate Disclosure

Signatories urge EU Member States and Issuing Bodies to implement granular GOs in their national legislative frameworks and ensure issuance by Issuing Bodies in a timely fashion. A European system of granular GOs will help accelerate electricity system decarbonisation by sending more accurate price signals and enable the robust verification of green hydrogen and green electricity claims. This will support and accelerate Europe’s ambitions to be the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. By acting swiftly, the EU has the opportunity to establish global leadership in energy market innovation and accelerate progress towards a truly sustainable future.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.07.2024 /

Malta Inc. Store2REPower Project Breaks Ground for Full-Scale Heat Exchanger Qualifications

Malta Inc. Store2REPower Project Breaks Ground for Full-Scale Heat Exchanger Qualifications

Malta Inc. announced the groundbreaking of the expansion of DLR’s world-leading test facility for thermal energy storage in molten salts (TESIS) for the full-scale qualification of the innovative, Alfa Laval-built heat exchangers, as part of their Store2REPower project. Led by Malta, in collaboration with Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Alfa Laval, and Siemens Energy, the Store2REPower project, which started in September 2023, is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection to support Germany’s efforts to achieve Paris Agreement climate targets and to be climate-neutral by 2045.

For the full scale validation of Alfa Laval’s innovative heat exchangers, DLR’s TESIS facility will be expanded to include a new two-story testing platform that is connected to the existing molten salt tanks and will house the new equipment, including two of the full scale heat exchangers. Construction started with the initial groundbreaking on June 17th, 2024, and is expected to be completed together with commissioning in May 2025, so that qualification testing can begin in June 2025. The development and validation of the full-scale heat exchangers represent a very important step towards the deployment of the first of a kind commercial highly efficient heat pump electricity and heat storage system.

“We are honored to partner with the DLR Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics as a leader in the field of thermal storage plants, to explore how Malta’s pumped thermal energy storage technology can accelerate Germany’s power and heat transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We are thrilled to be moving forward with earthworks and excited by the rapid progress of the project. This important work will identify how best to meet Germany’s decarbonization goals, create jobs in German turbomachinery manufacturing, and deliver a just transition by creating clean energy construction and operations jobs for the nation’s current energy workforce.” said Ramya Swaminathan, CEO of Malta.

Malta’s innovative pumped-thermal energy storage (PTES) technology is a like-for-like replacement for fossil-fueled thermal power plants. It generates 100-MW and more of clean dispatchable power and can also supply clean heat for district heating and industrial processes. The heat pump uses variable renewable electricity to charge the thermal storage tanks, which store the energy for hours to days. When needed, a heat engine reconverts the thermal energy into clean power and heat, returning more than 90% of the original energy to the grid and heat consumer with little-to-no degradation over its 30+ year lifespan.

As an LDES asset, Malta’s technology allows utilities to reliably deploy vastly more wind and solar power without the risks of unavailability or curtailment of excess generation. As a clean power plant, it delivers the same grid resilience and reliability services that fossil-fueled plants do but wind and solar do not. With among the best-available round-trip efficiencies, lowest system degradation, and longest plant life, Malta’s clean power and heat plant allows energy consumers to make up lost ground on decarbonization goals.

Find the full press release here.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

09.07.2024 /

Welcome on Board Volvo

Welcome on Board Volvo

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Volvo Group who joined EASE in June 2024. Spokespeople from Volvo Group, Kristian Vekas, Product Manager for BESS subsystems at Volvo Penta and Mark Ellis, Head of Battery Optimization and Monitoring at Volvo Energy, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Volvo, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Volvo as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Volvo’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

The Volvo Group is seizing new opportunities in the battery energy storage sector, enhancing its battery electric platform’s value chain. This effort is evident in two business areas: Volvo Penta, which supplies energy-dense BESS subsystems, and Volvo Energy, which provides BESS solutions using second-life batteries. For more details, visit the Volvo Penta and Volvo Energy homepages.

The energy transition faces both opportunities and challenges. We aim to bridge gaps for high energy users and energy companies using renewables. An end-to-end strategy is crucial, viewing battery energy storage as a key component in the energy transition. As electrification and data usage grow, collaborative efforts are essential to meet rising energy demands. Society, including governments, individuals, and corporations, must unify and standardize solutions to accelerate change. Our goal is to offer competitive, profitable, and reliable long-term solutions, working closely with customers to identify the best business cases and applications.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Volvo to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

This collaboration is crucial for aligning regulatory goals and milestones for EU energy storage, enabling us to meet customer needs efficiently. We are excited to engage with the community in this evolving sector to explore new collaboration opportunities. We also aim to raise questions around the importance of unified safety standards— one of our core values in the Volvo Group; alongside how we can all accelerate the energy transition through energy storage and circularity within the battery value-chain.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Volvo playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

Energy storage is crucial for the energy transition, enabling renewable integration and grid stability. The Volvo Group aims to further advance battery energy storage solutions. The Volvo Group is extensively involved in real-world testing and operations, addressing immediate electrification and charging needs. Supporting our existing customers in their transition to electric mobility is also a key deliverable for Volvo including optimized charging solutions and the provision of charging in locations not served by the electricity grid for example construction sites or mines. Leveraging these experiences Volvo Penta and Volvo Energy endeavors to accelerate market entry and contribute to setting unified safety standards. We are committed to driving the energy transition through innovation, collaboration, and circularity.

Become a Member

Don’t miss any policy updates and benefit of special discounts for EASE events. Get premium access to all our services and shape the future of the energy system!

JOIN NOW

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

26.06.2024 /

Statement on the Publication of the Electricity Market Design Reform in the EU Official Journal

Statement on the Publication of the Electricity Market Design Reform in the EU Official Journal

The revision of the Electricity Market Design has been officially published in the EU Official Journal on 26 June 2024. This landmark legislation significantly focuses on energy storage. With its entry into force now defined, the timeline by which Member States must comply with various provisions is established.

EASE Head of Policy Jacopo Tosoni’s statement:

On the assessment of flexibility needs:

Understanding the flexibility needs is crucial for addressing energy security and transition challenges confronting both the EU and its Member States.

By 17 April 2025, ENTSO-E and EU DSO will submit a proposal to ACER regarding the type of data and format to be submitted to regulatory authorities, and the methodology for the analysis of flexibility needs. By June 2025, ACER will either approve or amend the methodology proposed by ENTSO-E and EU DSO entity.

Finally, by June 2026, National regulatory authorities or designated entities will adopt and publish reports on the estimated flexibility needs for the next 5 to 10 years.

On national objectives for non-fossil flexibility, including energy storage: 

Establishing a national objective on non-fossil flexibility is paramount to show clear political commitment, provide signals to investors, and mainstream energy storage in the public debate.

By December 2026, Member States will define indicative national objectives for non-fossil flexibility, including contributions from demand response and energy storage.

By June 2027, ACER has up to 12 months to issue a report analysing the national reports and provide recommendations on cross-border relevance and flexibility needs.

On flexibility support schemes: 

Introducing clear provisions on how to develop energy storage support schemes to meet the national objectives on flexibility needs is the right way to promote non-fossil solutions.

By 2027, Member States will possess new legal instrument to foster energy storage by developing new support schemes. Nonetheless, it should be noted that the existing regulatory framework already allows Member States to deploy state aid to support storage.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.06.2024 /

Joint Letter Calling for Expanding EIB Guarantees to Unlock EU Industrial Competitiveness

Joint Letter Calling for Expanding EIB Guarantees to Unlock EU Industrial Competitiveness

EASE, along with 38 European cleantech innovators, investors, industry associations, researchers and NGOs has called for expanding EIB guarantees to unlock EU industrial competitiveness. 

European cleantech manufacturers are being forced to turn down orders for lack of bank guarantees, which greatly limits the growth of these clean industries in Europe. Without a targeted solution, European manufacturers and supply chains will suffer competitively, with non-European competitors seizing the market share and undermining Europe’s industrial base.

This Friday 21 June 2024, the EIB’s Board of Governors will approve its new Strategic Roadmap for 2024-2027, which will support the EU build leadership and competitiveness in strategic cleantech sectors. Several such sectors are currently under pressure due to the large-scale investments being made by other global players like China and the US. A leaked version of the EIB Strategic Roadmap shows that guarantees are one of the EIB instruments that can efficiently address the financing gap of cleantech start-ups and SMEs by crowding-in private investments.

In response to this, a group of 39 European cleantech innovators, investors, industry associations, researchers and NGOs jointly call on the EIB to support the expansion of its public guarantee, as guarantees are essential in securing Europe’s energy transition and resilience. This tool can scale-up Europe’s cleantech manufacturing significantly and reinforce the global competitiveness of EU green industry.

In this joint letter, the group of 39 organizations makes five detailed asks that outline how the EIB can help grow strategic cleantech sectors, particularly batteries and long-duration energy storage systems including seasonal storage; electrolysers including stacks; solar photovoltaics including inverters; industrial heat pumps; and innovative renewables (including geothermal and ocean energy).

The EIB’s deployment of a manufacturing guarantee mechanism for the wind industry and electricity grids proves the effectiveness of this instrument, which now needs to be expanded to other strategic cleantech sectors, and include both manufacturing guarantees and loan guarantees to ramp up manufacturing capacity. By doing so, the EIB would be delivering its climate bank mandate -a number one priority in its new Roadmap- by stepping for cleantech and innovative renewables where commercial banks have reached their lending limits, as these limits are not configured to match the speed and ambition of Europe’s energy transition.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

18.06.2024 /

Joint Statement Confirming the Green Deal as Europe’s Growth and Security Engine

Joint Statement Confirming the Green Deal as Europe’s Growth and Security Engine

The Green Deal is Europe’s primary strategy and growth engine for achieving climate neutrality, and it should remain so.

Unfortunately, in recent months, the EU’s Green Deal agenda has faced increasing pressure. The draft Council conclusions from April 2024, prepared by Heads of State for the next EU strategic agenda, mention the Green Deal only once. This shows the risk of losing focus on the Green Deal and its benefits, such as competitiveness, job creation, and sovereignty, alongside sustainability. Such a shift sends a negative signal to markets, investors, and citizens who need clear political commitment.

With this statement, EASE joins 400 stakeholders to demonstrate to political leaders the widespread support for the Green Deal. Europe can become a leader in energy storage and cleantech by acting on its Green Deal commitments.

Let’s not gamble on our future, let’s build it!

More details are available on the website coordinated by SolarPower Europe and Solar Impulse Foundation: https://www.greendealforeurope.eu/Confirm The Green Deal (greendealforeurope.eu) 

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

22.05.2024 /

I’m Voting in the European Elections on 6-9 June 2024. Are you?

I’m Voting in the European Elections on 6-9 June 2024. Are you?

 

The European Parliament takes decisions that impact your life, and the future of renewables in Europe. 

Recently, the European Parliament has played a crucial role in setting into law the EU’s commitment to become climate-neutral by 2050 and the new legally binding target of 42.5% of renewables in the EU’s final energy consumption by 2030. But this is not a given. The new European Parliament could end up being much less in favour of renewables and wind energy than the current one if we don’t turn out to vote. The higher the turnout, the more likely we will get a Parliament that reflects the pro-renewables views of most Europeans.

We can enhance our energy security by deploying more local energy. We can strengthen our national security by making us less dependent on unreliable energy suppliers – and building infrastructure that’s cyber and data secure. Bringing local jobs, investments, and community benefits, especially in rural and coastal areas. We can protect the natural environment and biodiversity and help fight climate change. Like our industry does every day, let’s show our support for the values Europe stands for. Let’s make sure we all vote in the European elections in June.

 

What can you do now?

  • Find out how the elections work and how to vote here (available in different languages).
  • Sign up here to get voting reminders and ensure you don’t forget to use your vote.
  • Share this with your family, friends, and colleagues on social media!
  • And most importantly… Go vote this June!

The 2024 European Parliament election is scheduled to be held from 6 to 9 June.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

17.05.2024 /

Welcome on Board Trina Storage

Welcome on Board Trina Storage

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Trina Storage who joined EASE in April 2024. Gabriele Buccini, Head of Utility Storage at Trina Solar Europe, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Trina Storage in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Trina Storage as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Trina Storage’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

We are excited and honoured to join the European Association for Storage of Energy. At Trina Solar, we are committed to leading the way in smart solar energy solutions and facilitating the transformation of new power systems for a net-zero future. Our commitment to cost-competitive storage is a natural evolution of our journey, which began with the manufacturing of solar modules over 26 years ago. Over the years, we have expanded our expertise to include solar tracking solutions and have become a global leader in these areas.

Trina Storage overseas business unit was launched in 2021 with solutions integrating third-party systems. This represented a significant step in gaining experience and building our local capabilities. Now, we have expanded our manufacturing capabilities upstream, which includes the production of in-house cells, modules, and containers, for complete vertical integration. Our manufacturing capacity is scaling up to over 20 GWh this year – entirely focused on stationary applications – for both standalone and integrated storage systems, always complemented by our robust local services.

Trina Storage current focus markets are in China, North America, and Europe. Here in Europe, we leverage our existing structure, which includes more than 300 employees across the continent. By the end of 2024, we expect to have around 20 storage projects online across the European Union, mostly in UK and the first ones in Germany.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Trina Storage to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

We believe in the potential of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to transform Europe’s energy landscape, which aligns with our commitment to advancing the transition to green energy. Joining EASE allows us to contribute to a virtuous storage community that supports the EU’s ambitions for a sustainable energy future.

Our decision to join EASE was driven by our desire to actively engage in the policy and technology discussions that will define the future of energy storage and renewable energy integration in Europe. As a member, we look forward to sharing our global expertise and local insights to influence the development of energy storage solutions.

We are particularly enthusiastic about initiatives that focus on setting the right targets and regulatory frameworks for energy storage, which are crucial to accelerating the green energy transition and climate neutrality by 2050. Through our engagement with EASE, we are committed to supporting the development of standards and policies that ensure safety, supply chain security, and net zero impact, fostering healthy market dynamics across Europe.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Trina Storage playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

Energy storage, particularly Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), is crucial for enabling higher penetration of renewable energy sources. BESS provide critical services such as grid stabilization—including frequency containment reserve (FCR), frequency restoration reserve (FRR), and local services like reactive power—as well as energy shifting capabilities. These functionalities are essential for managing the intermittency of renewable energy and enhancing grid reliability.

While we foresee other technologies such as Hydrogen playing a significant role in longer-duration energy storage, we believe that BESS has not yet reached its full potential. Our R&D department is actively working on advancing battery technology, exploring more advanced battery chemistries, and improving thermal designs to enhance performance and efficiency. These developments will expand the potential applications of BESS, making it even more integral to the energy transition.

At Trina Solar, with over 50,000 global employees dedicated to fostering a green energy sector, we are fully committed to integrating BESS into our portfolio. We believe that both front-of-the-meter (FTM) and behind-the-meter (BTM) applications, whether residential, commercial and industrial or utility, will significantly support the adoption of renewable energy. As we continue to innovate across solar and storage, Trina Solar aims to be at the forefront of shaping the future of energy storage, aligning with our vision for a sustainable and resilient energy future.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

15.05.2024 /

Joint Statement Welcoming the New Network Code for Demand Response

Joint Statement Welcoming the New Network Code for Demand Response

We are a broad group of stakeholder organisations that have come together to welcome the new network code drafted by ENTSO-E and the EU DSO Entity.

In recent years, the EU has introduced a regulatory framework to support its decarbonisation pathway. This framework recognises the important role that distributed energy resources (DERs) and active consumers will play in efficiently achieving climate goals. It is now becoming increasingly clear that well-functioning decentralised electricity systems and markets are essential to enable DERs and active consumers to contribute to Europe’s security of supply and efficient grid operation.

However, demand response and DERs are currently facing a significant number of barriers to accessing different markets (e.g., wholesale, ancillary services, and local flexibility markets), and making the best use of consumers’ flexibility, as highlighted by ACER’s Market Monitoring Report 2023. These local barriers prevent the scalability of Demand Response across Member States, making it difficult to deploy today.

The adoption of a new network code specifically designed for demand response and DERs is therefore pivotal to achieving the climate objectives of the EU and strengthening the resilience of the EU energy system. The Demand Response Network Code should ensure that the regulatory provisions set in the Electricity Market Design are clarified and correctly implemented in a harmonised way across Member States to enable and that no undue regulatory barriers limit the participation of demand response and DERs in any electricity markets.

We want to acknowledge and thank all those who drafted this proposal, in particular the teams at ENTSO-E and the EU DSO Entity. It has been a challenging but evolving process that allowed stakeholders to provide significant input. More importantly, it has allowed everybody around the table to learn and openly discuss the challenges the sector faces, and to obtain a better understanding of each other’s views, interests, and the obstacles, solutions and benefits it will offer. We encourage the adoption of a similar process for the revision of existing network codes and the development of future network codes and implementing acts, including the Implementing Act for Data Interoperability.

In the next phase, we ask ACER and the European Commission for an effective process to build on this network code, improving where necessary and strengthening the current draft. This should facilitate a quick implementation across Member States, to ensure all energy consumers can play an active role, and that System Operators have a harmonised set of rules for the market-based procurement of flexibility. We ask to pay special attention to ensure that the network code:

Firmly promotes market-based flexibility procurement first
  • Clearly assigns responsibilities and incentives for setting up local flexibility markets even before national terms and conditions are agreed (that should happen before 2029), sets out principles for market-based procurement and optimal use of resources and providing a clear signal for investment.
  • Ensures that the goal of a secure and efficient energy system, at the lowest cost for grid users, is at the heart of all decisions.
Does not protect the status quo, as it risks failing to achieve a lower cost energy system
  • An NRA assessment shall evaluate market-based and non-market-based procurement methods already set up in a Member State for compliance with the network code when it enters into force. Yearly monitoring, with the support of ACER, will ensure market- based procurement is applied when possible.
  • Provides NRAs with uniform and clear guidelines for the assessment procedure.

Is harmonised, interoperable and forward-looking

  • Ensures through requirement harmonisation that all grid users and demand response and DERs service providers across the EU can participate in all services.
  • Limits the number of open-ended derogations for system operations and avoids the use of weak language (e.g., “may”).

Recognises the urgency of having well-functioning and resilient decentralized electricity systems and markets, by tightening deadlines on system operators. Europe cannot afford to wait until 2029 for national terms and conditions.

 

Finally, and based on the urgency described above, the Demand Response Network Code needs to be enforceable, by providing penalties and consequences for failure to implement.
The undersigned stakeholders will continue to be available to support ACER in the next phase.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

15.05.2024 /

Welcome on Board Vestel

Welcome on Board Vestel

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Vestel who joined EASE in April 2024. Hakan Kutlu, CEO and President of Vestel Mobility, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Vestel in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Vestel as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Vestel’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

Vestel is a 40 years old engineering and manufacturing company active in consumer electronics and home appliances. Last 20 years Vestel Group has been monitoring global changes such as; our impact to environment, the way we commute and planning of urban areas. While these big trends were demanding new products and services, we were working on adapting our capabilities and technologies accordingly to the changing landscape. For a sustainable future, we knew that we need to go through energy transition. This was the start of our presence in energy storage sector. We first start by learning cell and battery technology, then energy generation and distribution and from there we start to build our line-up. Now we are capable of producing battery packs, inverters and PCS all in-house at our facilities located in Manisa, Turkiye. We have C&I storage units start from 75Kwh up to 300Kwh and utility solution 3.3 to 5MWh. In 2025, the focus will be the delivery of 500MWh of assets to our customers.  

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Vestel to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

As Vestel Mobility, we have been working on design and development of BESS units within our facilities in Turkey. However, regulations and customer requirements are changing rapidly in energy industry and you can only provide one part of the solution. We believe energy market is a collaborative market and it will grow through collaboration. EASE is a perfect platform where we do not only connect other players for business purposes but participate into collaborative design and development activities. That is what excites us, and creates motivation for our teams.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Vestel playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

We believe that together we are carrying Europe and countries around Europe into a greener and sustainable future. Energy transition will not only reduce our dependency to fossil fuels but will also boost the economic growth in and around the region. Vestel will take its part in this transition through design, development and manufacturing of BESS units with high reliability, quality and connectivity. We also believe that through our engagement with universities and working groups, we will contribute to development of engineers and business professionals for the industry.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

07.05.2024 /

Welcome on Board Ratio Energy

Welcome on Board Ratio Energy

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Ratio Energy who joined EASE in May 2024. Emin Batur Dizdar, CEO of Ratio Energy, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Ratio Energy in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Ratio Energy as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Ratio Energy’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

Glad to be here and part of EASE network. Briefly speaking, Ratio Energy is trying to streamline the energy storage investment and operation processes using novel technologies like AI and optimization systems.

We are delivering software intelligence solutions at two stages of a storage project.

1) At pre-investment stage, we provide a techno-economical simulation software (RATIO SIM) to provide financial and technical details like cash flows, return on investments and battery degradation. We also allow the project designers to optimize the electrical project for storage investments such as choosing the right C-Rate / Cycle Life / Rated Power / Rated Energy etc.

2) At operational stage, we provide best-in-class energy management software (RATIO EMS) that is vertically connected to all plant hardware as well as to electricity markets to maximize project returns WITHOUT compromising the battery’s lifetime.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Ratio Energy to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

Since the beginning of Ratio’s journey, we constantly saw there was a knowledge gap in the industry with regards to technical complexities of energy storage systems. Investors in storage projects are de-motivated because understanding how to manage and monetize their investments is very hard. Using correct options in investments and operation can affect project returns up-to %30 percent.

Because of this, we are always trying to raise awareness and inform the industry. EASE is a great place where it seems actions are prioritized and people are well motivated. We wanted to increase our reach and get to know industry veterans who are trying to do the same thing as us.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Ratio Energy playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

At this point in time where renewable penetration coupled with advancements in Li-Ion technologies, it is virtually impossible to take energy storage out of the equation. We believe energy storage will play a crucial role in the transformation of energy industry from a centralized fossil fuel based system to a distributed renewable system. As Ratio, we want to play a role in terms of accelerating this process by making energy storage investments easier and more profitable to energy financers using novel technologies like AI.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

30.04.2024 /

European Commission Recognizes Zero Terrain Paldiski as Vital Step Towards Energy Security and Independence

European Commission Recognizes Zero Terrain Paldiski as Vital Step Towards Energy Security and Independence

In the first half of April, the European Commission (EC) published an updated list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI), which includes the Zero Terrain Paldiski, Estonia pumped hydro energy storage (PHS) project. This positions Zero Terrain Paldiski as the sole long-duration energy storage project in the Nordic-Baltic region acknowledged by the EC, qualifying it for Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding.

According to Peep Siitam, the head of Zero Terrain, “Long-duration Energy Storage (LDES) provides as much energy security as conventional power plants and interconnectors. Pumped-hydro storage (PHS) is the most mature and affordable LDES technology that supports renewable power generation and reduces customers’ energy bills.”

”Its carbon-neutral nature and cost-effectiveness make it a cornerstone in renewable energy strategies. Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS introduces a new path for the EU countries, reducing reliance on Russian gas and dependency on China’s dominance in clean technology supply chains. Zero Terrain technology offers the opportunity to apply the benefits of PHS in other EU countries where it was previously impossible due to geographical conditions,” Siitam explained.

Zero Terrain’s Paldiski project – the 500MW PHS plant in Estonia – supports the nation’s goal of transitioning to 100% independent renewable energy by 2030 and ensuring lower electricity prices for consumers.

The EC’s publication of 166 Projects of Common Interest underscores the urgency and importance of energy infrastructure projects, with over half dedicated to energy, offshore wind, and smart grid initiatives.

Zero Terrain is poised to leverage this recognition to pursue CEF funding, marking the first time PHS technology qualifies for such support. The application window for CEF funding is open from 30 April to 22 October, and Zero Terrain is preparing to access the 850 million euros allocated for energy infrastructure projects. Including Zero Terrain Paldiski on the PCI list signals a significant stride towards a more resilient, secure, and sustainable energy future for Europe.

About Zero Terrain

Initiated in 2009, Zero Terrain Paldiski is an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI) project. As a strategic infrastructure project, its preparation has been supported by the Connecting Europe Facility – managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

The Zero Terrain Paldiski obtained the main building permits in December 2022 and is currently open to bidding on the Mercell tendering platform to interested parties worldwide. The construction of Estonia’s first PHS plant will begin in 2025 and commence operations at full capacity in 2031. Zero Terrain’s investors include AS Alexela, Sunly AS, Vool OÜ, Combiwood Group OÜ, Warmeston OÜ, and Ronnivara OÜ.

More information: www.zeroterrain.com;

Media inquiries: Hedwig.Meidra@zeroterrain.com

 

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

25.04.2024 /

Europe's Resources and the Critical Raw Materials Act

Europe’s Resources and the Critical Raw Materials Act

Originally presented in March 2023, the European Union has finally agreed on Critical Raw Materials Act, the European Union’s response to the escalating demand for non-energy, non-agricultural raw materials critical to the Continent’s economic stability. Aligned with the global transition to renewable energy and digitalization, the Act addresses the EU’s vulnerability to supply risks due to heavy reliance on imports and concentration in select third countries.

The Act outlines several objectives, emphasizing the need to fortify the EU’s critical raw materials (CRMs) value chain, diversify imports, monitor and mitigate supply risks, and bolster environmental protection through circularity and sustainability.

There are several provisions that will impact energy storage. The Act establishes benchmarks for increased domestic production by 2030, directly impacting the energy storage industry’s raw material management. Also, the Act aims to enhance the internal market’s functioning, emphasizing materials crucial for energy storage technologies and promoting the availability of recyclable materials. Besides, it distinguishes between strategic and critical materials, listing essential components for energy storage like lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

The Act also streamlines permitting procedures for strategic projects, extending the scope to include materials substituting strategic raw materials and aligning with environmental standards. Besides, it emphasizes stock monitoring, risk assessment, and strategic planning for large companies involved in critical raw material-dependent technologies, such as energy storage.

From an environmental perspective, the Act encourages sustainable practices, this chapter prompts entities dealing with extractive waste to analyse critical raw material recovery, aligning with circular economy principles.

To conclude, the Critical Raw Materials Act is a crucial step for the EU in securing access to essential resources for a green and digital future. It is still early to assess whether the Act provision will have a dramatic impact, or vice versa if it will be considered too limited in the years to come. Nonetheless, the introduction of this Act represents a key moment for Europe – and a break from the EU’s past legislation on raw materials.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

25.04.2024 /

Navigating the Net-Zero Industry Act: A Closer Look at European Cleantech Manufacturing Initiative

Navigating the Net-Zero Industry Act: A Closer Look at European Cleantech Manufacturing Initiative

In the wake of the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022, the European Commission responded with its strategic move – the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA). Unveiled in March 2023, the NZIA aims to position Europe at the forefront of clean technology manufacturing.

The IRA, legislation allocating over $369 billion to domestic clean energy production, marked a historic investment in the U.S. clean energy transition. Notably, the IRA’s focus on energy storage projects is anticipated to significantly cut carbon emissions in the U.S. by 2030. In response to the global race for cleantech leadership, the NZIA seeks to streamline permitting procedures, support strategic projects, incentivize public procurement of cleantech, foster innovation, and ensure a skilled workforce. With an estimated investment need of EUR 92 billion from 2023 to 2030, the NZIA introduces Net-Zero Strategic Technologies, a list encompassing critical elements such as batteries and energy storage.

Setting ambitious targets, the NZIA aims for at least 40% of strategic clean technologies to be domestically manufactured by 2030. Addressing bureaucratic hurdles, the NZIA requires Member States to establish single points of contact for permitting. Besides, provisions on sustainability and resilience in public procurement procedures aim to diversify the EU’s supply of clean technology. At the same time, the introduction of European Net-Zero Industry Academies has the potential to address labour shortages in the energy storage industry; while encouraging regulatory sandboxes for start-ups and SMEs can be crucial for emerging storage technologies.

So, is it all positive? Well, not exactly. While the NZIA streamlines procedures and facilitates access to existing instruments, its lack of ambition in addressing lengthy application processes and absence of additional financing have drawn criticism. Besides, details surrounding the functioning of many of the mechanisms listed above lack specificity.

In conclusion, the NZIA is a significant step forward for Europe in the cleantech race, but careful attention must be paid to the specifics of implementation to ensure its success in driving clean technology manufacturing and deployment. The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) remains vigilant in monitoring and advocating for the interests of its members in this dynamic landscape.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

12.04.2024 /

EASE Student Award 2024

EASE Student Award 2024

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is proud to launch its ninth annual Student Award recognising outstanding graduate student research in the field of energy storage.

Prize

The winning student will be awarded a ticket to the Energy Storage Global Conference taking place in Brussels on 15-17 October 2024. The 3-day ticket has the value of 1,390 Euros! He or she will be recognised during the conference and will be invited to present their research to the participants. In addition, EASE will cover transportation to and from Brussels as well as accommodation for the winning student for 3 nights in Brussels. This is a invaluable opportunity to network with industry leaders in the energy storage sector and to learn more about energy storage technologies, applications, business cases, and policy developments, which in turn, can give you access to working opportunities. 

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must either currently be enrolled as a student or have completed a program at an accredited European university between July 2023 and July 2024. The research must focus on an energy storage-related topic. Eligible papers are Bachelor’ s, Master’s or Doctorates research papers submitted during the above-mentioned period or ongoing. EASE will be able to evaluate papers written in English. For those written in other languages, applicants are asked to contact the EASE Secretariat prior to submitting their application to verify whether the Secretariat has the requisite language skills. Applicants must be available to travel to Brussels to attend the Energy Storage Global Conference on 15-17 October 2024. Applicants from outside the EU should be in possession of a valid visa allowing them to travel to Belgium in October 2024. EASE will only cover basic travel and accommodation costs for the event from locations within Europe. By submitting their application, candidates agree to allow their personal data, including the completed thesis, to be shared with EASE members.

Selection Procedure

The selection of the winning student will be performed by the EASE Secretariat and a selected committee of members. Students will be judged on the quality of the responses, the research design, and on the relevance of the research topic to the energy storage industry. The winner will be announced by the beginning of September 2024.

Instructions

Please complete the application form in full (personal information, abstract), attach your (draft) thesis, and return both documents to Ms Elina Cirule: e.cirule@ease-storage.eu.

The deadline for the application is Friday, 19 July 2024. Candidates who do not comply with the eligibility criteria will be disqualified.

A printable flyer that can be sent out to students, posted on your website or printed for information boards is accessible here.

 

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

21.03.2024 /

Welcome on Board Huawei

Welcome on Board Huawei

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Huawei who joined EASE in January 2024. Jacky Chen, President of Huawei Digital Power Europe, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Huawei in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Huawei as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Huawei’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

Thank you, we are delighted to be joining EASE!

At Huawei, we are committed to providing the safest, most reliable and stable one-stop energy storage solution. Huawei leverages its advantages in digital and power electronics technologies, and integrates its established digital technologies with PV and ESS technologies. Huawei offers intelligent FusionSolar PV+ESS solutions for utility-scale, commercial & industrial (C&I), and residential scenarios in power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption, bringing customers lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), levelized cost of storage (LCOS), grid-forming technologies and active safety.

As a technology-driven company, our focus is on core technology and product solutions. Our strategy revolves around increasing our R&D capabilities, with core technologies including digital technologies, power electronics, solar technology and battery technology. We believe that the synergy between power generation, grids, loads and energy storage will transform renewable energy from supplementary to main energy sources capable of replacing fossil fuels.

In Europe, Huawei’s energy storage solutions have been deployed in more than 20 countries, including Germany, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, etc. Huawei’s energy storage solutions have served more than 20 different types of customers in multiple business scenarios, including frequency modulation, peak modulation, PV storage innovation and self-consumption by large enterprises.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Huawei to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

Our membership in EASE aligns with our mission to develop renewable power and enable energy digitalization to drive the energy transition for a better and greener future. Our motivation to join EASE came from our eagerness to learn about the latest energy storage industry trends and exchange on the relevant EU policies, regulations and innovations. By becoming a member of EASE, we aim to contribute our insights and expertise on industry, sustainability and innovation practices for the development of the energy storage industry in Europe. We view this as a unique opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of energy storage in the ongoing energy transition.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Huawei playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

We believe energy storage has a crucial role in the ongoing energy transition and achieving carbon neutrality. Huawei’s unique value lies in our commitment to work with partners and customers and empower them with innovative Smart PV and Energy Storage Solutions. We are committed to improving the safety and stability of new energy connecting to the grid, creating more value for our customers by innovating and promoting the convergence of PV and Energy Storage Systems, building Smart PV & ESS Generators that utilize the grid forming technology for stable renewable energy integration into the power grid. Looking ahead, Huawei will keep innovating and working with partners, industry players, industry and standards organizations to drive high-quality innovative development of the energy storage industry in Europe and globally.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

13.03.2024 /

Welcome on Board CATL

Welcome on Board CATL

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member CATL who upgraded their EASE membership in December 2023. Mr. LiBin Tan, President of ESS, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of CATL, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have CATL as a new member. Can you provide an overview of CATL’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

We’d like to establish a deeper cooperation with EASE. As a global leader in new energy innovative technologies, CATL is dedicated to supporting the global energy transition and continuously developing in the electrochemical energy storage industry.

Since it was established in 2011, CATL has been strategically focused on energy storage. In 2019, CATL began the mass production of long-life batteries capable of 12,000 cycles, maintaining a leading position in both energy storage batteries and systems. Over the past few years, we have collaborated with power groups to deliver large-scale energy storage systems co-located with renewable power plants for peak shaving and to raise renewable integration to the grid. We have also delivered stand-alone energy storage systems to support grid expansion and frequency regulation and provide service in end-use sector.

We continue to collaborate with influential utilities, developers and investors such as RWE, Enel, Tesla, Fluence, Wärtsilä, Gresham House and etc., to support the green transformation of Europe’s electricity systems. Our current energy storage product portfolio ranges from energy storage cells, modules, cabinets to containers.

For the European market, we believe that the value of energy storage hinges on 3 factors: 1) lifecycle safety performance; 2) lifecycle carbon emissions; 3) lifecycle cost. CATL has a department of over 300 engineers specializing in safety and reliability, committed to continuous innovation in materials, structure, manufacturing, testing, and validation. CATL has announced our goals to achieve carbon neutrality in core operations by 2025 and across the entire value chain by 2035, having three lighthouse factories and four zero-carbon battery production bases.

With excellent supply chain management, CATL is capable of providing the most competitive energy storage products for Europe’s renewable energy industry.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated CATL to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

CATL considers EASE to be the premier energy storage industry partner in Europe. We aim to leverage EASE’s extensive membership network and influence in policymaking circle to understand the latest trends in European energy storage policies, regulations and standards, and to track the latest requirements from energy storage industry.

EASE can help us in providing the most suitable solutions for the European market. Furthermore, EASE is influential in energy storage related policy analysis and persuasion, market insights and communication.

As an official member of EASE, CATL will partake in more EASE activities, contributing our expertise in policy discussion to foster faster deployment of energy storage, better understanding European regulations and market demand, and engaging more with our European customers and partners, thereby contributing to European energy transition.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see CATL playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

As an increasing share of renewable generation is brought on grid, we believe that energy storage will play an indispensable role in power system, particularly in grid balancing on time scales ranging from seconds to minutes to hours.

The instantaneous response speed, precise power control, and highly flexible planning capability of battery energy storage can reduce short-term spikes and volatility caused by intermittent renewables.

In the next decade, the European grid will undergo a phase of grid upgrades and a continuous increase of the renewable power ratio, leading to a decrease in grid inertia and more incidents of power shortages and congestions.

Under these conditions, how to maintain low-cost, low-carbon, high-efficiency, and high-reliability grid operations, to avoid the risk of regressing to fossil fuels and achieve net-zero targets, requires the cooperation of governments, institutions and companies.

We must continue to explore the value of electrochemical energy storage in rapid response, peak shifting, reserve capacity, black start, reactive power compensation, and other dimensions.

By the end of 2023, CATL has delivered more than 10GWh of energy storage products to Europe, building over a hundred FTM projects in UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and Belgium and many more. By the solid performance and quality control ability for batteries and energy storage systems, CATL will continue to provide the most reliable solutions for Europe’s energy transition.

Become a Member

Don’t miss any policy updates and benefit of special discounts for EASE events. Get premium access to all our services and shape the future of the energy system!

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

27.02.2024 /

Welcome on Board Eku Energy

Welcome on Board Eku Energy

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Eku Energy who joined EASE in January 2024. Nicky Ferguson, Principal Policy Manager, accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Eku Energy, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Eku Energy as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Eku Energy’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

Eku Energy is a global battery storage business working across the full project life cycle to develop, build, and manage energy storage assets for the long-term.

The company was launched in November 2022, and is jointly owned by a Macquarie Asset Management managed fund and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI).

Our purpose-built team brings together specialist technical capabilities, with experience across origination, development, system design, power markets and software optimisation. By combining technical, digital and financial innovation with a local partnership approach we aim to maximise the benefits of energy storage systems in any given location.

Already we have a global project portfolio of 4.6GWh – with over 1GWh operating or in construction – and are working hand-in-hand with system operators and governments to provide vital grid services in key markets around the world, including the UK, Australia, Italy, and Japan.

Our first battery went live in July last year, in the Latrobe Valley of Victoria, Australia. The 150MW/150MWh Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) marks a new era in Australia’s energy transition, as the first retired coal-fired power station to host a battery storage system and represented a key moment in repurposing former thermal assets for renewable energy technologies. Delivered in partnership with ENGIE, the project demonstrates the importance of collaboration in providing secure and reliable energy to support the energy transition.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Eku Energy to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

As a global investor developer Eku has a unique perspective on the energy storage value chain, and we hope to be able to contribute these learnings to the development of new markets and network services across Europe, from the monetisation of battery storage to the assessment of flexibility needs and strategies at a country-level.

We look forward to collaborating with industry colleagues on the ground and believe EASE will be invaluable in helping us to keep abreast of the latest market developments and news. We’re well place to provide a range of different perspectives to support the energy transition and look forward to doing so will the help of EASE’s political influence. Safety is also of paramount importance to us, and we wish to play an active role in supporting EASE’s ongoing work on EU level standards for supply chains and technology.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Eku Energy playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

We see three distinct market opportunities for battery energy storage, developing in waves as markets mature. It is our intention to play an active role in the development of these market opportunities to enable the delivery of energy storage at the pace and scale necessary to advance the clean energy transition.

  1. Real-time balancing – support the opening of new de-regulated ancillary products and services to enable greater levels of renewable penetration and reduce reliance on fossil fuel alternatives.
  2. Wholesale volatility – ensure market structures value flexibility so that cheaper, cleaner power can be delivered to customers quickly and at lowest cost.
  3. Network services – enable more efficient use of existing grid infrastructure through innovation in technical and contracting structures.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

12.02.2024 /

Welcome on Board Jinko ESS

Welcome on Board Jinko ESS

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Jinko ESS, a strategic business unit of Jinko, who joined EASE in December 2023. Roberto Murgioni (Head of ESS) accepted to discuss with us about the expertise of Jinko ESS, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Thank you for accepting this interview. We’re delighted to have Jinko ESS as a new member. Can you provide an overview of Jinko ESS’s activities in the energy storage sector and share some key insights from your company’s work in this field?

I’m thrilled to be part of this interview and to join EASE. Jinko ESS, the strategic arm of Jinko, provides innovative energy storage solutions tailored to our clients’ specific needs.

Our flagship product, SunTera, is a cutting-edge utility-scale energy storage system with a 3.76 MWh capacity and state-of-the-art liquid cooling technology. It ensures safety, efficiency, and real-time monitoring, catering to grid stabilization and load balancing. SunGiga, our industrial-scale battery cabinet, offers flexible configurations and compatibility with various battery systems, ideal for diverse applications.

Energy Storage Systems (ESS) play a crucial role in grid stabilization, providing backup power, and optimizing renewable energy integration. Our primary goal is to optimize energy management, developing strategies for storing excess energy during low-demand or high-renewable generation periods and releasing stored energy during peak demand or low renewable generation.

Our main focus is contributing to grid stability and reliability by providing grid support services such as frequency regulation, voltage control, and grid balancing, addressing the intermittency of renewable energy sources. We aim to help our partners achieve cost savings by optimizing energy consumption patterns, reducing peak demand charges, and potentially avoiding expensive grid infrastructure upgrades. We also enhance energy system resilience by providing backup power during grid outages, crucial for critical infrastructure, businesses, and industrial customers. Through ESS, we deliver environmental benefits, contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction by efficiently using renewable energy and supporting the transition to a sustainable energy system.

In summary, our mission in the EU is to design, implement, and optimize energy storage solutions to enhance the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of energy systems, while addressing challenges associated with renewable energy integration. Our work contributes to the overall transition towards a more resilient and low-carbon energy future.

EASE: We anticipate a fruitful collaboration and value your contributions to our Working Groups and Task Forces. What motivated Jinko ESS to join EASE, and what specific areas or initiatives are you most excited about participating in within our association?

We’re excited to collaborate with EASE and contribute to its Working Groups and Task Forces. Jinko Solar’s decision to join reflects our commitment to innovation in energy storage. We’re particularly interested in the safety and sustainability task forces, recognizing their importance in shaping responsible energy solutions. We look forward to sharing our expertise and driving industry progress in these key areas.

EASE: Looking ahead, how do you envision energy storage contributing to the ongoing energy transition? What role do you see Jinko ESS playing in advancing and shaping the future of energy storage within this context?

Looking forward, we see energy storage as crucial in the ongoing energy transition, enhancing grid reliability, integrating renewables, and ensuring sustainability. At Jinko ESS, we’re committed to leading this charge by providing innovative solutions that address evolving challenges. We prioritize safety, efficiency, and sustainability in our offerings and aim to accelerate the transition to a greener energy landscape through collaboration and participation in initiatives like EASE.

Become a Member

Don’t miss any policy updates and benefit of special discounts for EASE events. Get premium access to all our services and shape the future of the energy system!

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

08.02.2024 /

Estonia's First Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Facility Has Issued an Invitation to Tender

Estonia’s First Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Facility Has Issued an Invitation to Tender

Energiasalv has published an invitation to tender on the international platform, Mercell. The tender is for constructing and designing a 500-megawatt underground pumped hydro energy storage plant in Paldiski. Interested parties worldwide, including large-scale underground mining, underground infrastructure, pumped storage, design, and engineering companies, are invited to collaborate and form an alliance to design and construct this water storage facility. The project includes the development of the plan, execution of civil works, and electromechanical works.

The construction of Estonia’s first pumped hydro energy storage plant in Paldiski will begin in Q2 of 2025, representing a significant milestone in developing the country’s inaugural large-scale energy storage facility. The 500MW underground Paldiski Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS) project, powered by the innovative Zero Terrain technology, secured the essential official permit in December 2022. Energiasalv’s Zero Terrain PHS plant in Paldiski is positioned as a pioneering solution to the challenges the energy sector is facing.

“We’ve chosen an integrated project delivery model for the Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS and are therefore seeking experienced partners (contractors, designers) to develop and implement the project collaboratively,“ explained Phil Scott, Chief Project Officer of Energiasalv.

Additionally, Energiasalv is looking for experienced contractors for the Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS electromechanical equipment.

According to Phil Scott, the tendering procedure for the electromechanical works will culminate in selecting and nominating a reputable and experienced electromechanical contractor. This contractor will be a constant partner for Energiasalv and other alliance members throughout all three project phases: Development, Implementation, and Operation & Maintenance.

The tendering procedure will consist of two stages ahead of the final decision to proceed with the alliance and electromechanical works mid 2024. The completion and award of the alliance tender are expected in late July, and the results for electromechanical works are scheduled in June. The selected tenderers will then progress to the development stage, planned to run from August 2024 until the first quarter of 2025, when the Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS project will be ready to commence with the implementation/construction phase.

The project is a pilot demonstration of the advanced Zero Terrain technology and showcases its potential before expanding globally.

Phil Scott says the tender offers a unique opportunity to engage with the groundbreaking Zero Terrain technology. Unlike conventional pumped hydroelectric energy storage confined to mountainous terrain, our innovation broadens possibilities to include flat terrain. Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS represents a significant advancement in traditional hydroelectric energy storage, enabling cost-effective deployment of storage technology in diverse locations worldwide.

“Following the significant global interest observed during the Call for Expression of Interest last autumn, we anticipate the project’s appeal to the shortlisted parties from that process,” stated Scott.

Tender teasers for the alliance and electromechanical works are issued through the tendering platform Mercell. Tenders will be published according to the timeline for the alliance on the 14th of February and for electromechanical works in April 2024.

More details about the project:

Energiasalv’s Paldiski Pumped Hydro Energy Storage plant is a EU Project of Common Interest (PCI project). It is the only pumped hydro energy storage project in the Northern Baltic region and will also be the largest facility in the country.

As a strategic infrastructure project, the project has received support from the Connecting Europe Facility, managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Energiasalv is jointly owned by AS Alexela, a leading Estonian energy company; Sunly AS, a Baltic-Polish renewable energy company; Combiwood Grupp OÜ, Warmeston OÜ, Ronnivara OÜ, and Vool OÜ, owned by the company’s CEO.

With a storage capacity of 6GWh during a 12-hour storage cycle, the project aims to provide affordable electricity to consumers during periods of low wind or solar power availability. This production level is equivalent to Estonian households’ average daily electricity consumption.

Please find more information about the tenders on Mercell platform:

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

02.02.2024 /

Energy Vault Expands Global Footprint for Gravity Energy Storage with 10 Year License and Royalty Agreement Covering Southern Africa

Energy Vault Expands Global Footprint for Gravity Energy Storage with 10 Year License and Royalty Agreement Covering Southern Africa

Energy Vault Holdings, a leader in sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, today announced that it has signed a new licensing and royalty agreement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The agreement was executed in Q4 2023 with Gravity Energy Storage Solutions (Pty) Ltd (GESSOL), a consortium company focused on energy storage deployments in Southern Africa, and includes one of the largest listed engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) companies in the region WBHO who will support all engineering, procurement and construction activities, as well as pan-African project engineering group iX Engineers and commercial developer Sizana Solutions, which has been partnered with Energy Vault since 2019 in development of the South African market for energy storage solutions.

While the scope of the license and royalty agreement includes Energy Vault’s gravity energy storage systems (GESS) and its associated VaultOS™ energy management system (EMS), the consortium companies are also bidding Energy Vault’s leading portfolio of short duration battery and ultra-long duration Green Hydrogen hybrid systems within the SADC territory to address energy shifting and micro-grid development to serve the utility, mining and industrial sectors.

License executed with GESSOL (Pty), a South Africa-based consortium including WBHO, one of the largest listed EPC companies in Southern Africa, iX Engineers and Sizana Solutions.

The multi-year agreement is expected to facilitate multi-gigawatt hours (GWh’s) of long duration Energy Vault GESS deployments to contribute to the SADC region’s energy storage needs, estimated to reach over 125 GWh by 2035. In addition to the technology licensing revenue, Energy Vault will receive a project revenue royalty over the complete operating life of each project, including software and maintenance revenues.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

02.02.2024 /

Voith Hydro expands Board of Management

Voith Hydro expands Board of Management

HEIDENHEIM, GERMANY. As of March 1, 2024, Andreas Wellmann will join the Board of Management of Voith Hydro with responsibility for the Projects business.

Andreas Wellmann, currently CEO & President Voith Hydro EMEA, will join the Management Board as President Projects in charge of the Projects business – including Project Management, Field Service and Scheduling – in addition to his current role.

After studying Business Administration in Germany and the UK, Wellmann assumed various management functions in the field of EPC contracting related to the petrochemical and energy sector, as well as the civil construction industry, both in Germany and Latin America. After joining Voith Hydro as Head of Service in Chile, he took over as CEO Latin America in São Paolo in October 2018. Since May last year, he has been contributing his experience in the project business to the region Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

About the Voith Group 
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services, and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 22,000 employees, sales of €5.5 billion and locations in more than 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

Voith Hydro Division is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier and reliable partner for hydropower plant equipment. Voith develops customized long-term solutions and services for large and small hydropower plants all over the world. Its range of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all the main components for large and small hydropower plants, from generators, turbines, pumps, and automation systems to spare parts, maintenance and training services and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

24.01.2024 /

Investments in Battery Research and Innovation: Ensuring the Future Competitiveness of the European Battery Industry

Investments in Battery Research and Innovation: Ensuring the Future Competitiveness of the European Battery Industry

On behalf of energy storage community, EASE and 11 other industry associations have published a Joint Letter to the European Commission on the importance to continue to invest in battery research and innovation under the Horizon Europe programme.

The programme of the European Battery Alliance has been supported by strong commitments to battery R&I by both European Union and industry under the BATT4EU Partnership under Horizon Europe. The European Union sets out to invest €925 million under the BATT4EU over the course of the Horizon Europe programme. However, this industry investment alone is not enough to create a truly European ecosystem, catching-up behind Asia and America and preparing technology leadership for the next decade. To develop key battery technologies in Europe which will enable a multitude of mobile and stationary applications which will contribute to the energy transition, we need at a minimum the current R&I budget to remain intact.

It is important that the European Union also stands to the commitments signed in the Partnership agreement, to support technology development at different TRL level, and to strengthen the message of their strategic importance to the energy storage community, investors and developers.

This will also :

  • Safeguard European competitiveness
  • Expand demand and diverse solutions
  • Deliver on the targets of the Batteries Regulation and Critical Raw Materials Act

We urge the European Commission to champion the cause of continued investment in battery research and innovation. By doing so, we can fortify Europe’s position as a global leader in battery technologies, stimulate economic growth, create high-quality jobs, and contribute to the green transition that is essential for our planet’s well-being.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

14.12.2023 /

Interview with Bjarke Buchbjerg from KYOTO on the Thermal Energy Storage

Interview with Bjarke Buchbjerg from KYOTO on the Thermal Energy Storage

In interview with Bjarke Buchbjerg from KYOTO we discuss the Thermal Energy Storage (TES) paper prepared by EASE Task Force on Thermal Energy Storage. This analysis aims to shed light on the numerous benefits of TES by providing an overview of technologies, inspiring projects, business cases, and revenue streams.

What precisely is thermal energy storage, and can you explain how it operates?

In thermal energy storage, energy is stored as heat inside a storage medium such as a liquid or a solid. This could be water, molten salt, rocks, or metals. The storage medium is heated from a low temperature to a high temperature, effectively storing energy. The energy can then be extracted from the storage medium into other types of heat like steam or hot air. Furthermore, it can also be converted into electricity.

When seeking the most suitable thermal energy storage solution for a particular application, what factors should be taken into account?

Considering customer demand is crucial. If the demand is electricity you must generate heat that gives optimal conditions for the conversion into electricity, which is normally in the higher temperature ranges between 500-700 degrees C. On the other hand, If the demand is heat, then the focus should be on both temperature and heat quality to determine which thermal energy storage technology is most suited for the application. Here the temperatures vary between 100 degrees C and over 1000 degrees C. The great thing about thermal energy storage lies in the adaptability of storage mediums to different temperature ranges. This means that the storage medium can be tailored and optimized to suit the specific requirements of the application

Are thermal energy storage systems for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes economically feasible?

Thermal energy storage is already extensively employed in various applications. In district heating, water is used to store heat at approximately 90 degrees Celsius. Similarly, within the low to medium temperature range of 150-550 degrees Celsius, thermal energy storage is a well-established practice. In concentrated solar power, the use of molten salts for storage has been widespread for decades, with over 10 GWh already implemented worldwide. In the industrial sector, the economic feasibility of utilizing thermal energy storage for supplying heat to industrial processes has undergone a significant transformation. In just the past 2-3 years, it has shifted from being not economically viable to becoming a financially viable option. This shift is particularly significant due to the substantial influx of renewable energy, which leads to significant fluctuations in the energy market. This fluctuation provides industries with the opportunity to leverage the flexibility offered by thermal energy storage technologies. They can access extremely affordable electricity from the grid, and in some cases, even receive payment for using it to generate heat around the clock for their processes.The emergence of numerous thermal energy storage companies in both Europe and the US is a clear indication of the immense potential for industrial decarbonization. This is achieved through the deployment of flexible heat production assets within the industry.

What economic and regulatory barriers does thermal energy storage currently faces?

Firstly, thermal energy storage faces the OLD taxes which was established to discourage industries from using electricity to produce heat. Back then it made sense, considering that all electricity was primarily generated from coal, gas, or oil. It didn’t make sense to convert electricity from fossil fuels back into heat. It was more efficient to locally burn fossil fuels for heat production… However, times have changed and now we have massive amounts of renewable energy assets in the electricity markets that is curtailed as the electricity cannot be used for heating purposes. These taxes now hinder industrial decarbonization efforts through electrification..

Secondly, the grid is  unable to respond to the massive demand of new electrical connection needed to introduce the thermal energy storage assets to the electricity market. In many cases getting a new connection is a process that takes several years, just to get the approval for the grid extension. While thermal energy storage has the potential to optimize grid usage, this potential has yet to be acknowledged by Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs).

Thirdly, permitting in general is a tiresome process with slow decision making and untransparent process structures allowing for massive delays.In essence, there are three primary obstacles in place that, if addressed, can expedite the decarbonization of both the electrical and industrial sectors.

Compared to 5 or 10 years ago, thermal energy storage has moved from the background to the forefront. How did that happen? Was it due to technological developments, or?

No, this shift isn’t due to advancements in technology; rather, it’s driven by market demand. The concept of thermal energy storage is neither new nor complex; it’s been around for a while. The driving force behind this trend is the pressing need in the market.. It is as simple as when you introduce massive amounts of renewable generation, you need to couple this with load shifting possibilities. Thermal energy storage is one of the most cost-effective solutions for this and therefore the interest for these technologies has increased exponentially especially over the last 3 years. Beyond enabling efficient load shifting in the energy market, thermal energy storage also plays a vital role in decarbonizing industrial heat, which accounts for over 25% of global energy demand. It’s evident that the time for thermal energy storage and sustainable, green heat has arrived.

Could you provide some insights into the EASE paper on thermal energy storage, including its objectives and purpose?

The purpose of the EASE paper on thermal energy storage is to outline the potential benefits, drive the story, on implementing thermal energy storage and to identify the necessary barriers and incentives that should be established to accelerate its commercialization.

What was the added value of having different EASE members from diverse backgrounds contribute to the topic?

The diverse backgrounds of the EASE members who has contributed to the EASE paper on thermal energy storage allowed us to show many different technologies, applications, benefits and barriers that are in place. The fact that the members are positioned in many different countries within the EU and are working within different sectors also meant that the message is based on a total view on thermal energy storage, not just from the technology providers themselves.

What should be one takeaway that readers should get from the paper and this interview?

Thermal energy storage is a readily accessible and economically viable technology. It serves as an attractive solution to help decarbonize the power sector, residential areas, and industries. Its implementation is crucial in achieving our goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

14.12.2023 /

Interview with Lavinia Iamele from Enel X on the Behind-the-Meter BESS

Interview with Lavinia Iamele from Enel X on the Behind-the-Meter BESS

In this interview we sit down with Lavinia Iamele form Enel X to discuss the overview of Business Case and Taxonomy of Behind-the-Meter Battery Energy Storage Systems in Europe prepared by EASE Task Force on Behind-the-Meter.

Can you explain the significance of behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems (BtM BESS) in the context of Europe’s energy transition and climate goals, and how do they contribute to achieving these objectives?

BtM BESS systems play a key role in facilitating European energy transition, and day by day will play an even more important role as the BTM storage capacity installed is expected to increase more than 5 times up to 2030.

There are 3 highlights on this role:

  1. Network flexibility and stability: BTM storage makes networks more stable, flexible and resilient, and most of all, has an enormous potential in terms of participation to flexibility services as it can grant to the grid all the needed flexibility at prices more competitive than the current ones. Consider that, in Europe, more than 456 GW of flexibility will be needed by 2030 and more than 800 by 2050. And, at the moment, around 70% of installed flexibility provisions comes from gas turbine, which is of course not in line with the climate goals of the EU. Here , storage will be the answer to overcome the flexibility challenges of the future and is likely to satisfy the great majority of the increasing flexibility needs of Europe, of course provided that effective regulations and policies will be put in place by the countries.
  2. Energy independence and de-centralization thanks to the Behind-The-Meter configuration: storage enables the efficient utilization of renewable energy, thus reducing reliance on fossil fuels power generation and decreasing carbon emissions.
  3. Lower price volatility: In the longer run, we expect Energy Storage to help stabilizing energy prices.

And, while the path towards the achievement of climate goals benefits from storage, the individual client gets savings resulting in Reduction in the energy bill, revenues thanks to the participation to energy programs and may also have a backup power granting resiliency in case of outages.

In a nutshell, Storage helps keeping the road open for energy transition while providing value for key stakeholders: the energy network as well as the client.

Your research discusses varying deployment rates of BtM BESS across different European countries. What factors do you believe are responsible for these disparities, and how can countries with lower deployment rates catch up?

Supportive policies, regulatory framework and incentives.  

Countries with more favourable policies, such as incentives, streamlined permitting, and grid access for BtM BESS tend to have higher adoption rates; also Electricity prices and tax credits significantly influence Storage adoption.

And, needless to say, the level of public awareness and understanding about these technologies highly impacts deployment rates, as informed consumers are more likely to invest in BtM BESS.

Let’s take the example of Germany, that has one of the highest adoption rates of BtM BESS in Europe, due  to robust regulatory support (including feed-in tariffs and net metering) but also policies that have driven the integration of renewables.

Italy has experienced a strong adoption of BtM BESS in the last few years especially thanks to generous government incentives targeting the residential sector. The Business-to-Business sector unfortunately hasn’t received the same incentives, and a similar scheme should be put into force for this segment, together with a fair access to markets that would considerably improve the economic viability of the revenue stacking.

The EU Taxonomy plays a crucial role in classifying environmentally sustainable economic activities. How can BtM BESS and BtM BESS+PV installations benefit from this classification, and what role does it play in promoting sustainable finance and investment in these technologies?

The EU Taxonomy is a classification system, entered into force in 2020, that establishes a common framework for identifying environmentally sustainable economic activities. The fact that BTM storage is identified as environmentally sustainable investment, as it falls within the EU taxonomy, (under the activities of “storage of electricity”, and “electricity generation using solar photovoltaic technology”) is CRUCIAL.

This is so important because this taxonomy acts as a guide for investors, companies, and policymakers in making informed decisions and ensuring that, through different investments and technologies, they are all proceeding towards the same goal of transitioning to a low-carbon and sustainable economy.

In general, being included in this taxonomy accelerates the highly needed financing of BESS projects and helps spreading awareness and knowledge of these technologies reassuring investors that, undoubtedly and demonstrably, Storage helps boosting the navigation toward zero carbon emissions.

Your work outlines several revenue streams for BtM BESS and BtM BESS+PV, such as self-consumption and energy arbitrage. Could you elaborate on the economic viability of these revenue streams currently?

Yes, of course. First of all, again, revenue streams and their economic viability are different region by region, but we can surely identify three basic revenue streams that often make the Business Case profitable through Revenue Stacking.

In case of PV+BESS installations, revenues are mainly derived from self-consumption. This involves storing excess solar energy generated by a photovoltaic system for later use. The economic viability depends on the cost of electricity from the grid, and any incentives or subsidies available. In regions with curtailment, when the excess PV generation cannot be injected into the grid, self-consumption is even more convenient.

Beside self-consumption, and for both BESS Standalone and PV+BESS, peak shaving (also called Demand Charge Management) is a revenue stream extremely relevant in regions with high peak electricity rates. Through a dynamic software, the battery is able to intervene, by discharging, in the moments in which the power consumed by the client or the grid power cost is at its peak, often granting considerable savings to the client.

Moreover, Energy Arbitrage on Tariffs can be done in almost all countries, and its economic viability is higher, the higher the intra-day spread of energy tariffs.

These three basic revenue streams paired together can often make the business case economically viable, and in addition to these, country by country, many more streams involving market participation can be added and stacked together, provided that the access to market is allowed to BTM BESS in the country considered.

You highlighted various barriers to BtM BESS deployment for the EASE paper, including restrictions on BtM exports to the grid and complex tax structures. How can policymakers address these barriers and create a more supportive regulatory environment for behind-the-meter energy storage?

Provided that factors vary a lot country by country and that any supportive measure must follow technology neutrality principles, policymakers should try to bring forward several actions:

  • Foster regulations useful to recognise prosumers and their right to produce and consume their own electricity, through clear and enforceable definitions in EU policy.
  • Establish regulatory incentives able to streamline permitting and administrative practices,
  • Create clear grid connection codes and, most of all, enable fair market participation for BTM storage in countries, such as Italy, where this is not yet fully enabled
  • Put into force financial measures for end-consumers such as tax credits, grants, low-interest loans, as well as favourable tax depreciation for storage and solar installations to significantly reduce the upfront costs associated with installing BtM BESS and BtM BESS+PV systems.

Where possible, also fostering time-of-use tariffs would be of great help for the economic viability of BTM BESS.

The proposed Electricity Market Design (EMD) revision and other EU policy developments are expected to impact BtM BESS and BtM BESS+PV. Can you discuss how these policies can promote the deployment of these technologies?

The Electricity Market Design (EMD) revision proposed in March of this year, even though still too general to unlock a real and immediate change, reinforces the ground for BTM storage, mainly in 3 ways:

First of all, it gives a clear definition of “Active customer” which is basically a prosumer, and by giving this definition provides an essential foundation to enable and push the participation of BtM BESS+PV customers in the energy and balancing markets.

Secondly, introduces limitations to new net metering schemes for active consumers, improving the case for self-consumption.

Finally, it explicitly and clearly recommends that Member States promote, through regulatory and non-regulatory action, the uptake of demand response and Behind-the-Meter storage.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

14.12.2023 /

Statement on Electricity Market Design Reform: Energy Storage as a Cornerstone in Decarbonisation and Energy Security

Statement on Electricity Market Design Reform: Energy Storage as a Cornerstone in Decarbonisation and Energy Security

On 14 December 2023, the Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement to reform the EU’s Electricity Market Design (EMD), with the goal of reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices. The text emphasises energy storage as a key solution in achieving energy security and decarbonisation. 

 

EASE Head of Policy Jacopo Tosoni’s statement: 

On the importance of the Electricity Market Design reform: 

“Following the energy crisis, it was essential to present new legislation able to address the concerns of citizens and Industry. EASE believes the European Union was able to strike the right balance between public involvement and market-based mechanisms. This new legislation focuses extensively on flexibility – and rightfully so: ensuring sufficient energy storage is deployed is crucial to prevent energy price spikes and gas import dependency. This reform will have a big impact on the energy storage sector”. 

 

On the role and design of Capacity Mechanisms:  

“Capacity Mechanisms should promote green flexibility. The decision to keep subsidising fossil fuels power plants through capacity mechanisms, albeit under strict conditions, is a step in the wrong direction. EASE believes that this approach hinders grid decarbonisation and furthers dependency on gas imports. In the event Member States choose to implement new Capacity Mechanisms, EASE is confident that they will formulate these mechanisms in line with decarbonisation objectives”. 

 

On the significance of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs):  

“The reform promotes PPAs as a key instrument in enhancing market access to long-term contracts. They are a source of long-term revenue stream for energy storage: the reform will incentivise the PPAs market and consequently facilitate investments in new energy storage projects.” 

 

“All in all, the new reform marks a pivotal moment for energy storage, as it becomes a key focus among European policymakers. The introduced provisions are poised to significantly accelerate energy storage deployment. EASE commends policymakers for swiftly reaching an agreement since the March Commission’s proposal.” 

Next steps: 

  • The provisional agreement reached by the co-legislators currently awaits approval and formal adoption by both institutions. 
  • EASE will support Member States in setting up new Capacity Mechanisms, helping design auctions that reward clean solutions over fossil fuels. 
  • EASE will spearhead efforts to foster the 24/7 PPA market, which will play a key role in decarbonising and strengthening the grid.  

 

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

21.11.2023 /

Net-Zero Industry Act: The Future of Our Cleantech Industry Has to Be Made in Europe

Net-Zero Industry Act: The Future of Our Cleantech Industry Has to Be Made in Europe

EASE, together with 25+ other stakeholders, including civil society, investors, innovators and specialists, call on Members of the European Parliament to ensure that the NZIA remains impactful and targeted to support the development of the European cleantech industry.

The Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) proposed by the European Commission in March 2023 is intended to set the foundation for the European Union’s response to the global cleantech race, by delivering the regulatory environment needed to scale-up Europe’s innovative cleantech industry. To meet its ambition, this Act should remain focused on solving the critical task at hand: scaling up cleantech manufacturing in Europe.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

02.11.2023 /

EASE Student Award Winner 2023: Maximilian Parzen

EASE Student Award Winner 2023: Maximilian Parzen

The European Association for the Storage of Energy (EASE) is proud to announce the winner of the 2023 edition of the EASE student award: Maximilian Parzen.


Congratulations on winning the 2023 EASE Student Award! We were very impressed with your thesis on ‘Energy Storage Design and Integration in Power Systems by System-Value Optimization’. Could you summarise the main focus and findings of your thesis?

Thank you! I’m honoured to receive the EASE Student Award. My PhD thesis predominantly revolved around the integration and optimization of energy storage technologies in macro-level power systems e.g. countries or even continents. I addressed challenges like assessing multiple storage technologies under competition and expanded the geographical scope of energy system models. By introducing the ‘market-potential method’ and co-creating the PyPSA-Earth model, I evaluated the system value of diverse energy storage technologies, especially in the African and European context. The main finding revealed that traditional cost and profit-based assessments often overlook the nuanced value of energy storage and that system-value optimization can unlock hidden values. These system-value approaches heavily rely on big models and here I want to underline that open-source software and open-science approaches are essential for high-quality outputs, trustful studies and innovation. This is pivotal knowledge for manufacturers, regulators, and system operators aiming to understand energy storage’s long-term strategic value.

What are the most interesting insights from your work for the storage sector specifically?

One of the most intriguing insights was the introduction of the ‘market-potential method’, which evaluates multiple energy storage technologies in terms of their competitiveness. This method extends existing system value approaches, and challenges the conventional approach of only focusing on reducing e.g. battery costs, showing that certain high-cost storage technologies might have more system value than their low-cost counterparts.

How did you get interested in the storage sector? What drove you to select this topic as your thesis?

I started paying attention to the storage sector started when I observed the growing transition to renewable energy sources and the big discussions about energy storage solution – maybe also thanks to EASE’s work. My master thesis supervisor Prof. Dr. Sasa Djokic got me hooked on the question of “what type of flexibility do we need?”. Trying to come up with a sharp answer didn’t lead anywhere, which drove me to explore flexibility and energy storage assessments, and thus, it became the central theme of my PhD thesis.

You state that levelized cost of storage can be a misleading metric, if used on its own. Can you elaborate why?

Levelized cost of storage (LCOS) primarily looks at all the costs that occur in a year over the total discharged amount. While it’s an essential metric, used in isolation, it can be misleading. One aspect is that LCOS does ignore any system perspective and does not account for the overall system value that different storage technologies might offer. For example, long duration energy storage provide system-benefits from reduced need of peak generators or grid expansion as well as increased renewable energy utility. Missing these system benefits can lead to misleading situations where a storage technology might have a higher LCOS but could offer greater benefits to the power system, making it more valuable in the broader context. In simple words, if you only pick the lowest LCOS technology you might pay a higher energy bill compared than your neighbour that has a long-term system perspective.

You discuss that a heterogeneous storage design can increase power system benefits – what do you mean by that?

Let’s break it down. “Heterogeneous” means that one storage does not fit all flexibility requirements and “increased power system benefits” translates into reduced electricity bills. So what I am saying is that we need various sizing and technology configurations to lower the electricity bill. Actually, in one of my studies, I found that a future European power system with high shares of solar and wind power capacity could benefit up to 10% by being able to pick the right technologies and size them freely across hundreds of locations. In contrast, some policy studies only analyse the storage benefits in power systems by analysing “homogenous” storage configurations, for instance, by analysing one 4h Li-Ion storage and sometimes one 72h long-duration storage in a national or EU power system. Well, now you know what magnitude of storage benefits these studies are missing → one that saves you 10% on the electricity bill.

You state that optimising multiple energy storage options reduces system costs. Why, and to what extent can that work? Which modelling tools did you use to come to these conclusions?

Optimizing multiple energy storage options means deploying a mix of storage technologies that complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses in a power system. This holistic approach can lead to more efficient and flexible power systems, hence reducing overall system costs. For this research, I used the PyPSA-Earth model, a global energy system model that provided high spatial and temporal resolution data which is extremely important to talk about flexibility, because the tools need to see the variability and grid bottlenecks. I implemented in the tool 20 state-of-the-art and exotic energy storage solutions which enabled me to conduct comprehensive and detailed analyses. In a national analysis in Nigeria, surprisingly, up to 7 of these 20 technologies were beneficial under different cost scenarios and many of them were beneficial in the same power system scenarios. Obviously, Nigeria does not represent the world and we know that power system with their unique infrastructure and environmental conditions are highly different around the world. I am still dreaming to extend this study and provide insights on a global level – which is possible today.

What are your future career plans? Do you see yourself working in the storage sector?

My future is sorted-out. I currently serve as the co-founder and CEO of a rapidly growing non-profit software company and think tank called “Open Energy Transition” focusing on energy system planning to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy worldwide. We help people all around the world by creating innovative and convincing studies that everybody can trust, improving and maintaining software tools, and supporting and training people on demand. The market is booming for such solutions as it finds its way from research into the rooms of transmission operators, regulators and policymakers. With major initiatives like the national flexibility assessments and the European Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) facing scrutiny, particularly from the storage community, I am committed to elevating the role of energy storage in these dialogues and plans. So long-story short: Yes, I see myself working in the very exciting and booming storage sector.

Thank you for your interview with EASE. Congratulations again on the award, and good continuation in the energy storage field!

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

13.10.2023 /

Strong Political Backing and Market Confidence at the Energy Storage Global Conference 2023

Strong Political Backing and Market Confidence at the Energy Storage Global Conference 2023

13 October 2023: The Energy Storage Global Conference (ESGC) 2023 was organised by the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) on 10-12 October in Brussels, Belgium. The conference gathered almost 400 energy storage stakeholders and covered energy storage policy, market, and technology topics.

In the inaugural day, speakers representing the European Commission and Parliament echoed the vital role of energy storage in the energy system. Anne-Katherina Weidenbach, Member of the Cabinet of the Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, opened the ESGC with a keynote speech, stressing that “energy storage and flexibility services have moved from the background of the energy sector to the forefront.” And on state aid, Alejandro Donnay from the European Commission emphasised that “it’s important that member states have the schemes in place to ensure that energy storage can participate in all markets”.

Crucially, Members of the European Parliament hailing from different political parties unanimously voiced that energy storage plays a pivotal role. Nicolás González Casares, parliamentarian for the centre-left S&D party and Rapporteur on the Electricity Market Design revision, stated that “without energy storage, it will be impossible to meet our climate goals.” Maria Da Graça Carvalho, also a Member of the European Parliament affiliated with the centre-right EPP, highlighted that “time is limited, I hope we do not lose this opportunity for a more forward-looking electricity market design.” Mr Morten Helveg Petersen MEP from the liberal party Renew mentioned that “hopefully, in the future Member States will discuss with their neighbours about cross-border storage, in order to further increase renewables.” Emma Wiesner, also a parliamentarian for Renew pointed out that “there is no comprehensive holistic policy work when it comes to Storage. Maybe that is one of the biggest homework for the institutions, as if we wish to harness storage’s potential, we need to act and talk about it holistically”.

The first day also featured a series of presentations and panel discussions on support mechanisms for energy storage, system planning, and network management in the context of the future energy grid.

On the second day, Elia Trippel, a representative from the OECD, emphasised a crucial point: “There are billions of dollars pouring into fossil fuels. We need to phase out those subsidies and set up corporate transition plans and sectoral targets set by governments.” The day proceeded with presentations on the Net-Zero Industrial Act and its potential to transform European manufacturing. Panel discussions addressed also a variety of specific topics: project financing, long-duration energy storage technologies, 24/7 Power Purchase Agreements, and developments in European energy storage markets. Panellists concurred that the demand for energy storage is on the rise, market demand is dramatically increasing, and deployment rates, both in front and behind-the-meter applications, are poised for rapid acceleration.

Piotr Szymański, Director at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, opened the third day of the conference, pointing out that “thermal energy storage is expected to have a very important role in the energy transition since heating and cooling are half of the EU’s energy consumption.” Several panel discussions took place, focusing on critical raw materials supply, industry decarbonisation, and how to ensure safety in battery energy storage systems.

This sixth edition of the conference attracted 16 exhibitors, almost 400 onsite and online participants, including over 54 speakers and moderators, marking a new phase for the energy storage sector, which is quickly gaining momentum.

To learn more about the ESGC, visit www.esgc.org

For more information about EASE: https://ease-storage.eu/about-ease/who-we-are/

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

15.09.2023 /

European Parliament sends support for non-fossil flexibility to Electricity Market Design trilogues

European Parliament sends support for non-fossil flexibility to Electricity Market Design trilogues

15 September 2023: The European Parliament, in a full plenary session, backed sending ITRE’s compromise reached in July straight to trilogue negotiations. The deal between S&D, Renew, EPP, and Greens/EFA supports non-fossil flexibility and energy storage, ahead of trilogue negotiations on the Electricity Market Design (EMD).

The Parliament’s position introduces a range of new provisions to support the deployment of flexible technologies, such as energy storage. Member States would now have the powers to set up fossil-free flexibility support schemes, which provide energy storage a solid business case. Additionally, EU countries must now assess the flexibility needed in the electricity system to deploy further sources of renewable energy in line with the EU’s 2030 climate goals, and set a national objective for energy storage. The Commission would also be obliged to introduce a Strategy for Energy Storage from 2025, to ensure a harmonised approach across the EU.

EASE Policy Officer, Thomas Lewis statement: 

On sending ITRE’s compromise agreement straight to trilogues

“The result of today’s vote squarely denied the opportunity to derail the Parliament’s EMD negotiations in favour of fossil fuels. The compromise reached in ITRE by MEP Nicolas Casares is fair and contains solid protections for consumers and promotes renewable energy and non-fossil flexibility. This puts the Parliament in a stronger negotiating position with the Commisssion and Council to ensure the Electricity Market Design better supports energy storage and thwarts attempts for additional support for fossil fuels.”

On a new strategy for non-fossil flexibility

“Most notably, the Parliament’s position will push for allowing the introduction of flexibility support schemes, which will encourage the much-needed rapid roll out energy storage. The Parliament also pushes to ensure in-depth assessments for flexibility needs at both the national and European level, and, crucially, introduces a Union Strategy on Demand Response and Energy Storage from 2025 with the possibility of EU-level targets. All of this will help provide the flexibility needed to integrate further renewable energy and tackle grid congestion.”

On rejecting fossil-fuel dependency 

“Furthermore, the Parliament’s position will rightly push against any attempts to allow for further subsidies to prop-up coal through capacity mechanisms. In the future, EASE hopes to see stricter CO2 emissions limits implemented to ensure the swift decarbonisation of back-up power and the uptake of energy storage.”


Next steps 

  • EMD Rapporteur, MEP Casares (S&D, Spain), now has the permission to take this compromise straight to trilogue negotiations as the Parliament’s position with the Commission and Council.
  • The Council is still negotiating and has yet to adopt its position on the EMD. Once it does, trilogue negotiations can begin.
02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

12.09.2023 /

A Step-by-Step Guide to the ESGC 2023

A Step-by-Step Guide to the ESGC 2023

The Energy Storage Global Conference (ESGC) 2023, organised by EASE, is bringing together industry professionals, researchers, and policymakers for crucial discussions on energy storage. Register now at www.esgc.org to secure your spot.

In its sixth edition since its launch in 2014, ESGC 2023 is scheduled for 10-12 October 2023, at Hotel Le Plaza in Brussels. Over three days, it will unite leading figures from the energy storage sector for in-depth conversations on critical topics, including regulatory frameworks, the evolving storage market, and technological advancements.
From a carefully curated program (accessible here) to esteemed speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and participants, excellence permeates every aspect of the conference, facilitated by EASE. Located in Brussels, the heart of European policymaking, ESGC serves as a vital forum for industry leaders, innovators, researchers, and official representatives from Europe and around the world to collaborate on energy storage deployment.

Tuesday 10 October – Day 1: Policy

Day 1 begins with opening remarks from EASE President David Post and Secretary General Patrick Clerens, featuring presentations and panel discussions with distinguished speakers. Policy Day offers insights into shaping future projects, including the Electricity Market Design, the US Inflation Reduction Act, EU energy storage subsidies, and more. Networking breaks provide opportunities to connect and explore innovations at exhibitor booths.
Day 1 concludes with an Opening Dinner at the Centre for Fine Arts | Bozar. This ideal networking event is free for all ESGC 2023 participants.

Wednesday 11 October – Day 2: Market

The second day provides perspectives on markets, with speakers representing European Institutions and international companies. They will delve into energy storage investments, emerging markets, successful business cases, and industry trends. If you’re torn between parallel sessions, fret not; post-event, you can access conference recordings on our online platform – just remember to register!
Extend your networking opportunities and savour a delectable dinner with fellow ESGC delegates at the Théâtre du Vaudeville during the Gala Dinner, commencing at 19:00. To partake in this exceptional event, secure your Gala Dinner extra ticket at www.esgc.org.

Thursday 12 October – Day 3: Technology

Day 3 explores energy storage technologies, presented by industry-leading experts in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. The day includes a keynote address by Piotr Szymański, Director of the Joint Research Centre, unveiling the JRC’s vision for energy storage. Topics include recycling and repurposing, energy data sharing, thermal energy storage, and the latest innovations.

We look forward to meeting you in Brussels on 10-12 October at ESGC 2023!

 

Confirmed speakers and moderators include

Day 1 – Policy, 10 October

  • Anne Katherina Weidenbach, European Commission
  • Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director-General at European Commission – DG ENER
  • Nicolás González Casares, MEP at European Parliament
  • Morten Helveg Petersen, MEP at European Parliament
  • Christophe Gence-Creux, HoD at ACER
  • David Post, Global Head B2B Sales & M
  • Maria da Graça Carvalho, MEP at European Parliament
  • Mathilde Lallemand, Policy Officer at European Commission
  • Cillian Totterdell, Policy Manager at Form Energy
  • Doriana Forleo, Head of Communications at Energy Storage Coalition
  • Emma Wiesner, MEP at European Parliament
  • Marion Labatut, Director of European Affairs at EDF
  • Alejandro Donnay, Deputy Head of Unit at European Commission – DG COMP
  • Lars Stephan, Senior Manager Policy and Market Development at Fluence
  • Leonardo Meeus, Director at Florence School of Regulation
  • Edwin Haesen, Head of Section on System Development at ENTSO-E
  • Alberto Toril, Manager Europe at Breakth
  • Dr. Werner Götz, CEO at TransnetBW
  • Jan Kostevc, Energy Infrastructure Team leader at European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

Day 2 – Market, 11 October

  • Elia Trippel, OECD
  • Thomas Le Vaillant, Deputy Head of Unit DG TRADE at European Commission
  • Esmeralda Colombo, MSCA Leader for Energy Storage at CMCC Milan
  • Baptiste Buet, EU Business Unit Director at InnoEnergy
  • Sarah Griffiths, Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Hydrostor
  • Charles Hertoghe, Vice-President Business Development and Strategy Flex Gen Europe at ENGIE
  • Jürgen Pfalzer, Chief Growth Officer at Enspired
  • Pauline Barker, Investment & Development Director at Pulse Clean Energy
  • Michele Pissarello, Head of Sales B2B at ENEL X
  • Jon Ferris, Head of Flexibility and Storage at LCP Delta
  • Luca Manzella, VP BD EMEA at Energy Vault
  • Jan Andersson, Director Market Development at Sumitomo
  • Wim van Helden, Thermal Energy Storage Senior Expert at AEE – Institute for Sustainable Technologies
  • Julia Souder, CEO at Long Duration Energy Storage Council
  • Heike Bergmann, Senior Vice President Sales Africa at Voith Group
  • Marc Oman, Principal, Energy & Infrastructure at Google
  • Gilda Amorosi, Senior Programme Manager – Energy & Sustainability at Microsoft
  • Killian Daly, Executive Director at EnergyTag
  • Nick Bitsios, Head of Office at Mytilineos
  • Annie Scanlan, Policy & Impact Director at RE-Source Platform
  • Attila Steiner, State Secretary for Energy and Climate Policy at Hungarian Ministry of Energy
  • Malgorzata Kozak, Director of Department (Director of Markets Development & Consumer Issues) at Poland Energy Regulatory Office
  • Nadiia Petruchenko, Chief Business Officer at SPP Development Ukraine
  • Rimvydas Štilinis, CEO at Energy Cells
  • Silvestros Vlachopoulos, Energy Storage Research Manager at LCP Delta
  • Maximilian Parzen, Phd Student at University of Edinburgh

Day 3 – Technology, 12 October

  • Piotr Szymański, Director for Energy, Mobility and Climate at Joint Research Centre, European Commission
  • Fabrice Mathieux, Research Staff at European Commission – JRC (Joint research Centre)
  • Ruben Davis, Policy Officer at Cleantech
  • Wouter Ijzermans, Public Affairs Director at BEPA
  • Viera Pechancová, Research Project Coordinator at Tomas Bata University
  • Bjarke Buchbjerg, CTO at Kyoto Group
  • Carla Barrera, Director Business Development and Marketing – Energy Storage at SLB
  • Jef Cornelis, Project Engineering dept. Coordinator at Avery Dennison
  • Richard Zhang, EVE
  • Jürgen Möllmann, Business Development Manager at Honeywell
  • Tiago Sousa, ESS Product Safety Manager at Saft
  • Neill Parkinson, Business Development and Product Manager Europe at Jinko Solar
  • Jennie Condron, Policy and Research Analyst at Energy Storage Ireland (ESI)
  • Aakarshan Vaid, Consultant – Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) at World Bank

…and many more!

View the full ESGC 2023 Preliminary Programme here.

For more information, visit www.esgc.org.

ESGC 2023 Sponsors

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

07.09.2023 /

Statement on The Critical Raw Materials Act: ITRE Committee Votes to Endorse the Draft Report

Statement on The Critical Raw Materials Act: ITRE Committee Votes to Endorse the Draft Report

On 7 September 2023, the ITRE Committee adopted the draft report for the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) of the rapporteur Nicola Beer.

EASE is delighted to welcome the legislative development of the upcoming Critical Raw Materials Act as a step towards more sustainable, sovereign and fair energy transition in Europe.

CRMA represents a significant step towards managing and securing the availability of raw materials that are essential to the energy transition and production of transition technologies, including energy storage. Identifying these materials helps governments and economic operators prioritize their management and ensure they remain accessible.

EASE fully supports due diligence policies as the European Union must ensure that raw materials used in energy transition technologies, including energy storage, are sourced responsibly, with due consideration for social and environmental standards.

It is excellent that the Act encourages the development of sustainable sourcing practices and recycling initiatives for critical raw materials. This emphasis on sustainability aligns with broader environmental and resource conservation goals, ensuring that the extraction and use of these materials are carried out in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

EASE also acknowledges the importance of reducing dependency on external sources as another key aspect of the act. This involves diversifying sources of raw materials, supporting domestic mining and production capabilities, and fostering international cooperation to secure supply chains. By doing so, the EU can decrease their vulnerability to global market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions that may affect the availability of these materials.

CRMA serves as a comprehensive strategy to safeguard industrial base and advance sustainability goals. It is a welcome step towards the EU sovereignty , innovation, social due diligence and circularity of the materials.

Next steps:

  • Vote in plenary
  • Trilogues
02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.07.2023 /

European Parliament Backs Non-fossil Flexibility and Supports Energy Storage

European Parliament Backs Non-fossil Flexibility and Supports Energy Storage

19 July 2023: The European Parliament, through its ITRE Committee, backed a deal to support non-fossil flexibility and energy storage, ahead of trilogue negotiations on the Electricity Market Design.

The Parliament’s position introduces a range of new provisions to support the deployment of flexible technologies, such as energy storage. Member States would now have the powers to set up non-fossil flexibility support schemes, which provide energy storage a solid business case. Additionally, EU countries must now assess the flexibility needed in the electricity system to deploy further sources of renewable energy in line 2030 climate goals, and set a national objective for energy storage. The Commission will also introduce a Strategy for Energy Storage from 2025, to ensure a harmonised approach across the EU.

EASE Policy Officer Thomas Lewis statement:

1. On new provisions for flexibility

“The result of today’s vote today is a positive step to better align Europe’s electricity market towards our climate and energy goals. The introduction of flexibility support schemes will give investors’ confidence in energy storage technologies to provide the flexibility needed to integrate further renewable energy.

EASE is pleased to see that this deal ensures in-depth assessments for flexibility at both the national and European level, and crucially introduces a Union Strategy on Demand Response and Energy Storage from 2025 with the possibility of EU-level targets.”

2. On rejecting fossil-fuel dependency

“Members of Parliament rightly rejected any attempts to allow for further subsidies to prop-up coal through capacity mechanisms. In the future, we hope to see stricter CO2 emissions limits implemented to ensure swift decarbonisation of back-up power and the uptake of energy storage.”

Next steps

  • EMD Rapporteur, MEP Casares (S&D, Spain) will take this compromise straight to trilogue negotiations as the Parliament’s position with the Commission and Council. ITRE voted to bypass a full plenary vote since the agreement is based on a broad consensus between the four largest political groups: S&D, EPP, Renew Europe and the Greens.
  • The Council has yet to adopt its position on the EMD. Once it does, trilogue negotiations can begin.
02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

06.07.2023 /

Energiasalv Secures EUR 11 Million Additional Funding for Zero Terrain PHS Project in Paldiski, Estonia

Energiasalv Secures EUR 11 Million Additional Funding for Zero Terrain PHS Project in Paldiski, Estonia

Energiasalv has acquired another EUR 11 million in additional financing for its EU Project of Common Interest (PCI project), the “Zero Terrain Paldiski” Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHS) plant in Estonia. The funding includes strategic investments from Alexela, Sunly, Combiwood Group, Warmeston, and Kiikri Kodu, further strengthening the project’s financial position. 

Energiasalv utilises its innovative Zero Terrain technology for the project, enabling the implementation of pumped hydro storage projects in flat regions without mountains or large rivers, thereby setting a new standard for efficient and sustainable energy storage through the utilisation of favourable geology and surface water bodies as upper reservoirs.

This additional financing aims to expedite the investment readiness process to achieve full readiness by the summer of 2024 and commence construction in the autumn of 2024. Zero Terrain Paldiski 500MW 6GWh PHS construction costs are about EUR 800 million. The capital raise follows the official permit granted to Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS in December 2022, highlighting the substantial investment in the country’s energy infrastructure.

Peep Siitam, Founder and CEO of Energiasalv, stated, “Reaching net zero power system isn’t possible without long-duration energy storage. Zero Terrain Paldiski 500MW 6GWh PHS will provide customers clean, secure, and affordable power when no wind or solar energy is available.”

The global electricity sector faces the challenge of integrating intermittent renewable generation while ensuring electricity supply reliability, security, and affordability. Energiasalv’s PHS plant in Paldiski, positioned as a pioneering solution in response to this challenge, will also be the country’s largest pumped hydro energy storage facility.

“For large energy storage projects like Zero Terrain Paldiski PHS, the governments must have the appropriate market and regulatory arrangements to support the industry’s development as a matter of urgency. These projects will come only with a supportive policy environment,” Siitam explained.

The construction tender will be launched in the autumn of 2023, the final investment decision will be made in Q2 of 2024, the construction works will begin in Q3 of 2024, and the commissioning of the plant is planned for 2031. 

About Energiasalv:

Energiasalv’s Zero Terrain Paldiski is an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI project). As a strategic infrastructure project, its preparation has been supported by the Connecting Europe Facility – managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Energiasalv is owned by the Estonian energy company AS Alexela, Baltic-Polish renewable energy company Sunly AS, Vool OÜ, Combiwood Grupp OÜWarmeston OÜ, and Kiikri Kodu OÜ. KPMG advised the additional financing for Energiasalv Zero Terrain Paldiski.

 

For more information, visit www.zeroterrain.com.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

28.06.2023 /

Investing in Electricity Storage – Challenges and Solutions for the Stakeholders in Order to Achieve the EU 2030 Targets

Investing in Electricity Storage – Challenges and Solutions for the Stakeholders in Order to Achieve the EU 2030 Targets

On 31 May 2023, Elettricità Futura and EASE held a joint Networking event in Catania to discuss the investment solutions needed to foster the growth in energy storage projects and ultimately to make the EU flexibility targets achievable.

The panel was opened by Patrick Clerens, Secretary General, EASE, and Eliano Russo, Head of 3Sun Gigafactory, Enel Green Power and saw the participation of Gintautas Baranauskas – InvestEU, European Commission, Silvestros Vlachopoulos – Senior Analyst at LCP-Delta, Giuseppe Cicerani – Head of Business Development Energy Storage, Enel Green Power, Luca Monello – Project Development & Asset Management Specialist, Tages Capital, Riccardo Frigerio – Normative and Regulatory Affairs, Elettricità Futura, with the moderation from Edoardo Storti, Head of EU Affairs & Studies, Elettricità Futura.

During the panel, the speakers covered several key topics: the role of the EU programs, primarily InvestEU, that help market players achieve the necessary funding to start new electricity storage projects; the current situation of the electricity storage market and the main drivers that will have an effect on its evolution; the importance of the evolution of the regulatory framework in order to support the installation of new storage capacity and an overwiew on electricity storage in the Italian electricity market; the opportunities and advantages that storage systems can bring to RES producers.

 

A special thanks goes to Enel Green Power and Enel X for allowing a visit at the Storage-X Lab and a virtual tour and presentation of the 3Sun Gigafactory.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

15.06.2023 /

Statement on The Batteries Regulation: European Parliament Votes to Endorse Council Deal

Statement on The Batteries Regulation: European Parliament Votes to Endorse Council Deal

On 14th June 2023, the European Parliament gave its endorsement to a deal reached with the Council on the Batteries Regulation.

EASE Secretary General Patrick Clerens’ statement:

On the significance of the Batteries Regulation for the Energy Storage Sector

“We are delighted to welcome the new Batteries Regulation as a significant step forward for the energy storage sector.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) play a crucial role in facilitating the energy transition. When utilized for Behind-the-Meter solutions, BESS empower citizens and reduce energy costs for industries. Additionally, when deployed Front-of-the-Meter, BESS maximize the integration of renewable energy sources and contribute to the establishment of a more resilient, sustainable, and efficient power grid.

The new Batteries Regulation aligns with these goals by promoting the development of safe, environmentally-friendly, and competitive batteries.”

On the Importance of Environmental and Social Sustainability

“The Batteries Regulation rightly commits to environmentally-friendly batteries.

EASE expresses its support for the introduction of a carbon footprint calculation that accurately reflects battery energy storage unique characteristics.

Besides,  it is excellent that the topics of batteries’ end-of-life and second-life are addressed in the Regulation. Furthermore, we applaud the inclusion of provisions regarding the end-of-life and second-life of batteries in the Regulation. This legislation offers much-needed legal clarity and guidance to industry stakeholders, enabling them to effectively manage BESS at the end of their operational life.”

 

EASE fully supports social due diligence policies: the European Union must ensure that raw materials used in Batteries are sourced responsibly, with due consideration for social and environmental standards.

Next steps

  • Following the final vote in plenary, the Council will now have to formally endorse the text of the Batteries Regulation before its publication in the EU Official Journal and its entry into force;
  • EASE will continue to support the policymakers on the delegated acts, with a special focus on the Carbon footprint methodology.
02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

14.06.2023 /

Net-Zero Industry Act: Our joint reaction in response to Mr. Ehler’s report

Net-Zero Industry Act: Our joint reaction in response to Mr. Ehler’s report

EASE, together with 10 other European Climate and Clean Tech Groups call on the European Parliament to keep the Net-Zero Industry Act true to its purpose of scaling up clean technologies across Europe. A joint reaction is published today to raise immediate concerns over the significant change of direction the draft report of Rapporteur Ehler suggests for the NZIA.

The leading European associations supporting this statement include EASE, SolarPower Europe, WindEurope, E.DSO, Europacable, EHPAT&D Europe, CurrENT, Flow Batteries Europe, Transport & Environment, and Renewable Hydrogen Coalition.

Our main concerns are that widening the scope of the Act to ‘any technology’ under the Taxonomy risk:

  • Diluting the attention from the core purpose of the Net-Zero Industry Act to scale up clean technologies across Europe
  • Reinforce existing challenges clean tech manufacturers currently face, such as rising energy, input costs and extra-EU imports
  • Divert the NZIA objective to support the significant investment needed to ensure global competitiveness for critical mass-manufactured clean energy technologies.

We strongly believe strategic Net Zero technologies, as outlined in the European Commission proposed Annex, should remain the priority focus of the NZIA targets and provisions.

To this end, we call on the European Parliament to avoid significant widening of the NZIA scope, to ‘make Europe the home of clean tech’ as Commission’s President von der Leyen called for earlier this year.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

02.06.2023 /

Welcome on Board Northvolt

Welcome on Board Northvolt

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Northvolt who joined EASE in March 2023. Mr. Wilhelm Löwenhielm, Senior Director of ESS Business Development at Northvolt, accepted to discuss with us the expertise of Northvolt, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Mr. Wilhelm Löwenhielm, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very really happy to have Northvolt among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarize the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

Northvolt enters the energy storage market in a novel way. We’re Europe’s first homegrown large-scale and vertically integrated battery company, from cathode active material to battery cells, complete battery systems and recycling. Based on this approach, we have the advantage of leveraging the most recent battery cell technology – the beating heart of any battery product – and continuously innovate. The fact that we control all the material flows for our batteries enables us to bring to market the world’s greenest batteries. Our vision is to enable the energy transition across multiple sectors without compromising on the sustainability footprint of products – a trade-off that I believe happens too often in the storage industry today in favour of environmentally and socially unsustainable batteries.

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receive Northvolt inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest from your company to join EASE?

As a European battery player with global ambitions, we have an interest in creating a strong European home market, both in terms of favourable conditions for R&D, materials supply, and manufacturing as well as expanding demand for energy storage and other battery products. We see EASE as a pivotal actor in growing the European energy storage market while upholding a commitment to quality, performance, and sustainability.

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

We are convinced that battery energy storage will play an increasingly important role in enabling the further penetration of renewable energy generation. In addition to high-performing battery storage products, the development of regulation to remove red tape and incentivize grid flexibility business models will serve to unlock the potential of the industry in Europe. With a circular business model, Northvolt can enable the energy transition in a more sustainable way than is the industry standard today.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

22.05.2023 /

Hydropower: The Key to Europe's Energy Transition?

Hydropower: The Key to Europe’s Energy Transition?

ETIP HYDROPOWER successfully organised the first edition the annual event “Brussels Hydropower Day” on 25th April 2023 under the title: “The added value of the hydropower sector as a catalyst and enabler in the clean and safe energy transition under the energy crisis”. Both the speakers and more than 120 participants contributed to the interesting and fruitful discussions, both online and in-person, in the exciting and informative event that brought together all stakeholder groups in the sector to discuss opportunities and barriers in the deployment of hydropower.

As Europe faces the challenges of the energy transition, the energy crisis, and changing market and regulatory conditions, the opportunities and barriers facing hydropower deployment are more complex than ever. Many hydropower systems could still be extended and upgraded by the modernisation of equipment or increasing their storage capacity. Furthermore 17 countries in Europe have so far tapped less than 50% of their economically feasible potential, if the market conditions would ask for it. However, to unlock the remaining potential is extremely challenging due to, among others, socioeconomical and environmental barriers, that can only be overcome with widely acceptable sustainable solutions.

OBJECTIVES OF HYDROPOWER DAY 2023

The “Brussels Hydropower Day” was created following the needs of the hydropower sector to bring together a wide range of stakeholder groups and policymakers at the European level. The aim was to provide a space for presentation of the key services provided by hydropower to the grid and electricity system and for discussion and collaboration on the most pressing issues that affect the deployment of hydropower in Europe and beyond.

Through a series of engaging presentations and panel discussions, participants at the “Brussels Hydropower Day 2023” gained new insights into best practice for hydropower deployment, including examples of market design, flexibility, and biodiversity requirements.  They also had the opportunity to participate in the dialogue about cooperation with other energy platforms within the SET Plan (European Strategic Energy Technology Plan) on approaches to ensure energy system integration and a flexible safe energy supply.

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: OUTCOMES OF THE EVENT

The Hydropower Day was opened by Ms Hélène Chraye, Deputy Director for the Clean Planet initiative at the European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and Mr. Anton Schleiss, professor emeritus at the Ecole Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and scientific coordinator of ETIP HYDROPOWER. They promoted the important and often ignored role which hydropower has to play in the current global energy landscape and the potential that it still has for helping to achieve the future net-zero carbon target set by the European Union. Hydropower has to export the European values, sustainability and circularity and use them as a competitive advantage. There is a need to support European hydropower exportation as well as to involve European citizens through the recognition of the benefits of hydropower.

This opening was followed by two keynote speeches, which were then followed by three thematic blocks, each with an open discussion panel about the following topics:

    • The added value of hydropower and energy storage in the energy transition and within the energy crisis
    • Best practice examples to tackle economic, environmental and societal challenges with hydropower
    • Synergies and collaboration with European Technology Industry Platforms (ETIPs), European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and other sector organisations for the integrated use of renewables in view of safe electricity supply

Ms Mathilde Lallemand, Policy Officer from the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission (DG ENER), was the first keynote speaker of the day and told us about the Reform of the Electricity Market Design. She presented three major tools: Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Two-way Contracts for Differences (CfDs) for public support for new investments, and forward markets. She concluded that the role of hydropower in providing such flexibility will be key. The second keynote speaker, Ms Ana Paula Moreira, Head of European Affairs of the national energy company in Portugal (EDP), presented the audience with good practice examples from Portugal, such as the scheme at Alqueva, a multipurpose large reservoir that integrates both solar and hydropower sources.

The first session included presentations from Mr Ghislain Weisrock from France Hydro Electricité; Ms Sera Lazaridou, from Hydroexigiantiki Consulting Engineers, Greece and Mr Peter Lustenberger, from AXPO Power, Switzerland. Ghislain Weisrock presented a study on the French power system which estimates that the flexibility needs in 2050 will be 7 or 8 times the current provisions. But the lack of profitability for the use of flexible technology explains the main threat to achieving these requirements. The new market model has to find an appropriate framework in order to invest in flexibility and to maintain existing services. Ms Sera Lazaridou showed that the total hydropower production in Greece focuses on multipurpose use and she highlighted its important role in the event of extraordinary system energy demand. She also outlined that pumped-storage projects are on the rise in Greece. The main objectives & targets of the New National Energy & Climate Plan (ENCP), based on draft announcements, promotes until 20230 additional pumped-storage schemes with a capacity of 2.5 GW and also an increase of the increased hydropower capacity of 4GW. Mr Peter Lustenberger shared the Swiss experience of roundtable negotiation to achieve a common understanding for reaching zero emissions target, ensuring the security of the energy supply and preserving biodiversity in Switzerland. Through this process, with agreement on the 2 TWh additional winter energy goal until 2040, 15 hydropower storage projects were recommended for development, to support and ensure the energy strategy 2050.

The second session showed best practice to tackle the three main current challenges: climate change, biodiversity change and the energy crisis. The economic, challenge was covered by Ms Maryse François, from MFX Consulting; the societal by Mr Eddie Rich from IHA, and the environmental, by Mr Jeffrey Tuhtan, Professor at the Tallin University of Technology.

By showing examples of China, Australia, Israel and Switzerland Maryse Francois claimed that pumped-storage plants are mandatory to support intermittent renewable energy and to achieve the net zero carbon emission target, and for this reason, a long-term vision of tariff and policy is needed. This includes simplifying the licensing process, reducing permitting processing time, rewarding services provided, defining long-term policy/contract and valorising multi-purpose water use. She mentioned IEA: “Hydropower is the forgotten giant of clean electricity, and it needs to be put squarely back on the energy and climate agenda if countries are serious about meeting their net zero goals”.

Professor Jeffrey Tuhtan presented the impressive results of a new research field, etho-hydraulics, which uses digital monitoring technologies for monitoring fish behaviour at hydropower plants, and which could provide the necessary reporting data for the EU taxonomy’s Technical Screening Criteria (TSC) and Do No Significant Harm Criteria (DNSH) and could also offer the opportunity to quantify the effects of climate change on fish migration.

Eddie Rich stated that irresponsible hydropower projects are no longer acceptable. The Hydropower Sustainability Standard has been developed by a multi-stakeholder council including governments, hydropower companies, environmental and social NGOs and financial institutions. This standard will help to demonstrate sustainability, build trust and reputation, manage risk with independent audits, align with industry and investors, and access climate bonds.

The third session focused on collaboration with other energy associations and platforms. The work done under ASPIRE collaboration, whose scope is to promote predictable and reliable renewable technologies, was introduced by a representative of Ocean Europe, Mr Donagh Cagney; Ms Liv Randi Hultgreen, explained how EERA and ETIP HYDROPOWER align and are bound to collaborate. The future participation of ETIP HYDROPOWER in the revision of the SET Plan and in the ETIP Forum was introduced and commented on by Mr Thomas Schleker representing EC Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. Finally, Mr Jean-Louis Drommi closed the third session by exposing a few takeaways of the project XFLEX HYDRO. He confirmed that the hybridization of hydro and small size battery can save up to 90% wear & tear of turbine mechanisms.

Finally, Dr Mark Morris, from SAMUI France, closed the presentations by introducing the audience to the ETIP HYDROPOWER project and the next steps that will be taken to participate in the transition to a future association. He identified a key role of the ETIP HYDROPOWER project being to help unify the hydropower sector, presenting a single voice on key issues, and thus enhancing and complementing the role of existing associations. Finally, he invited the audience to participate in the Terms of Reference Survey and in consultation on the priorities of the future self-sustaining and unifying hydropower association through the online consultation platform (https://hydro-consultation.eu/ ). The responsible EC officer for the ETIP HYDROPOWER project, Mr Sébastien Mortier, highlighted its importance in the ongoing energy transition framework.

All the sessions included a panel discussion which further deepened, completed and enhanced the added value of the hydropower sector as a catalyst and enabler in the clean and safe energy transition under the energy crisis. The panel involved all speakers, and in Session 2 also Mr. Diar Isid, EC Policy Officer from Directorate-General for Environment; Mr Olivier Tricca, Power Engineer from European Investment Bank and Mr Benjamin Graff, Open Innovation Manager from Companie Nationale de Rhône (CNR), France.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

22.05.2023 /

Energy sharing: a new right to protect and empower consumers

Energy sharing: a new right to protect and empower consumers

On behalf of a group of European stakeholders, we would like to highlight the relevance and suggest improvements on the dedicated energy sharing framework proposed by the European Commission in the revision of the Electricity Market Design.

This new right will stimulate the move towards a consumer-centric, decentralised energy system that empowers consumers and prosumers, while protecting them from excessive price spikes thanks to renewable energy shared at a lower price. Energy sharing should also contribute to mitigate local congestions, incentivize an efficient use of existing public network and reduce grid reinforcement needs.

Some Member States have already developed similar schemes and, based on best practices, we recommend the following improvements to art. 15a of the Electricity Directive:
Refine the scope of application. Beyond households and SMEs, large companies should be allowed to participate as active customers. This shall not be detrimental to the use of energy sharing as a scheme targeting vulnerable households and alleviating energy poverty.
Ensure cost-reflective network tariffs are applicable. National regulatory authorities should define or approve cost-reflective network charges for energy sharing, which reflect the costs of the utilised public grid infrastructure.
Stimulate flexible demand to mitigate local congestions. The current proposal does not encourage flexible consumption of renewable electricity shared at local level. Energy sharing should aim at an optimisation at local level of all decentralised energy resources to mitigate congestions caused by non-flexible uses of electricity, support the cost-effective electrification of the energy system, without causing imbalances.
Do not limit the use of decentralised energy resources to energy sharing schemes and allow them to participate to any market to stack value, individually and/or aggregated through the support of market parties.

While overarching principles should be set at EU level, the European Commission should support national transposition via an Implementing Act to provide guidance on the technical setup of energy sharing, such as on sharing coefficients, agreements between active customers, market players and grid operators, and the required data exchange using both smart meters and dedicated metering devices.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

11.05.2023 /

Energy Storage Coalition launched - more flexibility to help decarbonise Europe

Energy Storage Coalition launched – more flexibility to help decarbonise Europe

EASE is glad to be a partner of the Energy Storage Coalition, a new organisation aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of the European energy system by increasing the deployment of sustainable and clean energy storage solutions to support renewables.

The launch event on 4 May 2023 was attended by over 150 policymakers, industry and associations representatives. It provided an opportunity to discuss how the upcoming EU Electricity Market Design can address today’s barriers to the deployment and use of energy storage technologies in Europe.

The keynote speaker, Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, presented the work of the European Commission to foster renewable energy sources and energy storage deployment, particularly in the context of the upcoming EU Electricity Market Design revision. The Commissioner emphasised that energy storage is key to building a future-proof, resilient and decarbonised energy system and the Energy Storage Coalition is a welcome development, and will be an important interlocutor going forward.

The Coalition partners presented how energy storage can provide the flexibility needed to ensure the European Union meets its decarbonisation targets, strengthens energy security, and achieves lower energy prices.

The event facilitated a fruitful discussion on how upcoming legislation will accelerate a surge in renewables and energy storage, and demonstrated the need to reform the electricity market design to ensure energy security, that must be achieved through non-fossil solutions.

The event showcased the growing importance of energy storage in Europe’s energy transition, and the role it can play in achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future. All speakers agreed that it is paramount to increase the resilience of Europe’s energy system and ensure affordable electricity to protect consumers.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

09.05.2023 /

Energy Storage Coalition launched - more flexibility to help decarbonise Europe

Energy Storage Coalition launched – more flexibility to help decarbonise Europe

On 4 May 2023 the Energy Storage Coalition, a new organisation aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of the European energy system by increasing the deployment of sustainable and clean energy storage solutions to support renewables, hosted its launch event.

The event was attended by over 150 policymakers, industry and associations representatives. It provided an opportunity to discuss how the upcoming EU Electricity Market Design can address today’s barriers to the deployment and use of energy storage technologies in Europe.

The keynote speaker, Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, presented the work of the European Commission to foster renewable energy sources and energy storage deployment, particularly in the context of the upcoming EU Electricity Market Design revision. The Commissioner emphasised that energy storage is key to building a future-proof, resilient and decarbonised energy system and the Energy Storage Coalition is a welcome development, and will be an important interlocutor going forward.

The Coalition partners presented how energy storage can provide the flexibility needed to ensure the European Union meets its decarbonisation targets, strengthens energy security, and achieves lower energy prices.

The event facilitated a fruitful discussion on how upcoming legislation will accelerate a surge in renewables and energy storage, and demonstrated the need to reform the electricity market design to ensure energy security, that must be achieved through non-fossil solutions.

The event showcased the growing importance of energy storage in Europe’s energy transition, and the role it can play in achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future. All speakers agreed that it is paramount to increase the resilience of Europe’s energy system and ensure affordable electricity to protect consumers.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

04.05.2023 /

Welcome on Board Energy Vault

Welcome on Board Energy Vault

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Energy Vault who joined EASE in February 2023. Mr. Luca Manzella, VP BD EMEA at Energy Vault, accepted to discuss with us the expertise of Energy Vault, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Mr. Luca Manzella, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very really happy to have Energy Vault among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarize the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

Energy Vault is a global energy storage technologies integrator. Our innovative technology portfolio delivers customized short-and-long-duration energy storage solutions to help utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users significantly reduce levelized energy costs while maintaining power reliability. We believe that there is not going to be a unique solution able to address all the different market needs for energy storage. For this reason, we have developed a comprehensive offering that includes proprietary gravity-based storage, battery storage, and green hydrogen energy storage technologies.

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receive Energy Vault inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest from your company to join EASE?

We are entering the European market and we appreciate the work that EASE is doing in promoting energy storage both at the European Commission and at the public level. We hope that by joining the EASE family, being one of the few diversified energy storage solutions integrators in different global markets, we can leverage our experiences, contributing to the acceleration of energy storage development in Europe.

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

Energy storage is highly complex but is the core of a fully renewable energy system. A real energy transition will be delivered only by maximizing the high penetration of intermittent sources (solar and wind). This can only happen if we adopt innovative energy storage systems, which are the key to effectively moving away from fossil fuels. Our mission is to accelerate the decarbonization of our economy through the development and deployment of energy storage technologies that deliver unprecedented sustainability and economic benefits to our customers. We’re enabling a renewable world.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

03.05.2023 /

Voith Hydro wins order to expand Kruonis pumped storage plant in Lithuania

Voith Hydro wins order to expand Kruonis pumped storage plant in Lithuania

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA. To make the country less dependent on energy imports, Lithuania is aiming to systematically expand its renewable energy sources – especially solar and wind power. To offset the volatility of these energy sources, the partially state-owned Ignitis Group company Ignitis Gamyba is investing around EUR 150 million in the expansion of the Kruonis pumped storage hydropower facility, where an additional, fifth unit will be installed.

Ignitis Gamyba is relying on the expertise of Voith Hydro for the installation of the highly flexible pump turbine unit with an output of 110 MW. As a technology leader in the field of pumped storage, Voith Hydro is thus setting new benchmarks, as the variable-speed unit is the most powerful of its kind worldwide. The use of a full-size converter allows for a very large control range as well as a fast response of the unit.

The Voith Hydro scope of supply includes pump turbine and motor-generator, the above-mentioned full-size converter, transformer, penstock, auxiliary equipment and the necessary civil works to integrate the unit optimally into the existing power plant. Voith Hydro will act as general contractor and is therefore responsible for design, manufacturing and transport, as well as assembly and commissioning of the unit on site.

The facility is set to go into operation by the end of 2026.

“We are extremely pleased about the trust placed in us to act as general contractor for our customer on this project. All our partners are now ready to enter the implementation phase and thus provide the best possible support to Ignitis Gamyba in achieving its goals,” says Hubert Geissberger, Voith Hydro sales representative for the region.

About Ignitis Group

Ignitis Group is an international energy company and one of the largest energy groups in the Baltic region playing a critical role for its energy security and decarbonization. Group companies operate in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Finland and supply power to 1.6 million customers.

About Voith Group

The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.9 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Hydro is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier as well as trusted partner for equipping hydropower plants. Voith develops customized, long-term solutions and services for large and small hydro plants all over the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all major components for large and small hydro plants, from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems, right through to spare parts, maintenance and training services, and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.04.2023 /

Welcome on Board enspired

Welcome on Board enspired

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member enspired who joined EASE in March 2023. Mr Jürgen Mayerhofer, CEO & Co-Founder of enspired, accepted to discuss with us enspired’s expertise in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Mr. Jürgen Mayerhofer, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very really happy to have enspired among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarise the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

While rooted in fully automated wholesales trading, we position ourselves as a route-to-market provider including cross-market optimisation. We run a fully digital setup without any human traders in front of screens, which allows for end-to-end process automation. For battery storage our day-ahead models allocate power and capacity to different markets such as wholesale, ancillary services (capacity and energy) and – where applicable – imbalance markets. We then execute bidding into auctions and trade continuous markets with thousands of trades per day to achieve the commercial optimum. Our models are trained with more than 8bn data points and consider all commercial and technical restrictions including warranty terms. We offer this technology as Trading as a Service to different customers such as utilities, asset developers, VPPs and energy-intensive industry. We successfully optimise different use cases from grid-scale energy storage (BESS and pumped hydro), co-located BESS with PV and C&I-scale BESS in behind-the-meter setups.

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receive enspired’s inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest from your company to join EASE?

We saw that the pace in the energy storage space has increased quite heavily since the energy crisis. As we’re already acting in several European countries, EASE is an excellent platform to connect with our industry peers and get the latest updates and information about all aspects of energy storage. Our goal is an active contribution to Working Groups and Task Forces and sharing our operational experiences from commercial optimisation and challenges such as what holds the industry back from fully unlocking behind-the-meter flexibility (at the moment).

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

We founded enspired to unlock as much flexibility as possible on a global scale. Battery storage systems are now the greatest allies we have in driving forward the transition to green energy because they expand the integration of renewables and decarbonize supply processes, which in the long run creates a more resilient, more sustainable and more efficient power grid. In short, storage systems give inflexible assets a flexible edge, and this is what we’re all about here at enspired.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

05.04.2023 /

Welcome on Board HiTHIUM

Welcome on Board HiTHIUM

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member HiTHIUM who joined EASE in February 2023. Mr. Winfried Wahl, Senior Director at HiTHIUM, accepted to discuss HiTHIUM’s expertise in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Mr. Winfried Wahl, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very really happy to have HiTHIUM among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarise the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

First of all thank you for accepting us as a new member of EASE. HiTHIUM has been founded by very experienced leaders from the battery industry with clear focus on stationary energy storage products based on LFP technology. This focus allows us to optimize products, processes and production on cost and performance especially for the needs of ESS systems. HiTHIUM is founded on strong R&D activities not just on DC-systems but as well on LFP cells and materials used to continuously improve their performance.

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receive HiTHIUM inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest from your company to join EASE?

Storage systems are the missing cornerstone of a successful and affordable renewable energy system. Since sources like solar and wind are volatile, storage will need to buffer energy production and match demand at any time. Doing so, regulatory framework plays a big role for the successful transition, energy regulation and laws need to be updated, people educated, and know-how shared. No doubt, EASE as the European industry association has a very important role on that challenge. Therefore, we would like to team up with EASE and its members to accept this challenge, which is all of us’ challenge. Let’s work together!

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

As said, energy storage is the key for the success of the second phase of energy transition. The more we substitute traditional and fossil power plants, the more storage needs to team up with cheap and green sources of energy production and make them available 24/7 at 365 days a year. If besides producer and consumer we add storage to the energy system, we eliminate the need to produce energy same time as demanded and reach next step on the path to 100% renewable and green energy.

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Don’t miss any policy updates and benefit of special discounts for EASE events. Get premium access to all our services and shape the future of the energy system!

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

23.03.2023 /

Welcome on Board ELPEDISON

Welcome on Board ELPEDISON

EASE is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member ELPEDISON who joined EASE in February 2023. Mrs Katerina Karali, Regulatory and Business Development Director at ELPEDISON, accepted to discuss with us the expertise of ELPEDISON, in energy storage and expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Mrs Katerina Karali, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very really happy to have ELPEDISON among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarise the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

I would like to thank you for the warm welcome and for giving us this opportunity to speak about our activities in the sector. We are very pleased to join EASE and we look forward to working with you to promote energy storage and support your mission. ELPEDISON is the result of the joint venture between HELLENiQ ENERGY, one of the largest commercial and industrial energy Groups in South-East Europe and Edison, the longest-running electricity production utility in Europe and one of the largest in Italy. We are a leading energy company in the production & supply of electricity and the supply of natural gas.

We have a storage license for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be located in Central Greece and we are actively seeking to expand our portfolio. We are also exploring the potential of other storage technologies focusing especially in long duration options, finding suitable partners and pilot projects to participate in.

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receiving ELPEDISON inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest from your company to join EASE?

EASE is the leading member – supported energy storage association in Europe representing companies and organisations across the sector’s entire value chain. We believe that EASE is an excellent vehicle to support the deployment of energy storage in Europe and we wanted to be part of this effort. EASE provides a great communication and learning platform that allows members exchange experiences, insights and ideas. Working together with all the leading energy storage companies in Europe is definitely beneficial, while we can contribute in shaping the sector’s future. EASE also provides a variety of services and tools, such as advocacy, market intelligence, the latest policy regulations and information sharing which are very useful and tailor made to our needs. 

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

Energy storage is expected to play a key role in the transition towards carbon neutrality by supporting the deployment of higher shares of renewables to the grid. This though needs to be done in a reliable manner which requires both technological evolution and regulatory framework adaptation. Energy storage has the capability to provide a variety of grid services such as flexibility, fast-response ancillary services and grid congestion management. Using energy storage to balance power grids through the provision of ancillary services increases the flexibility of the power system and helps integrate more renewables especially storage of long duration type. Deploying energy storage can defer the need for new investments in grid infrastructure by meeting peak demand with stored energy, reduce grid congestion and improve the utilization of the assets.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

21.03.2023 /

EASE Student Award 2023

EASE Student Award 2023

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is proud to launch its eighth annual Student Award recognising outstanding graduate student research in the field of energy storage.

Prize

The winning student will be awarded a ticket to the Energy Storage Global Conference taking place in Brussels on 10-12 October 2023. The 3-day ticket has the value of 1,299 Euros! He or she will be recognised during the conference and will be invited to present their research to the participants. In addition, EASE will cover transportation to and from Brussels as well as accommodation for the winning student for 3 nights in Brussels. This is a invaluable opportunity to network with industry leaders in the energy storage sector and to learn more about energy storage technologies, applications, business cases, and policy developments, which in turn, can give you access to working opportunities. 

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must either currently be enrolled as a student or have completed a program at an accredited European university between July 2022 and July 2023. The research must focus on an energy storage-related topic. Eligible papers are Bachelor’ s, Master’s or Doctorates research papers submitted during the above-mentioned period or ongoing. EASE will be able to evaluate papers written in English. For those written in other languages, applicants are asked to contact the EASE Secretariat prior to submitting their application to verify whether the Secretariat has the requisite language skills. Applicants must be available to travel to Brussels to attend the Energy Storage Global Conference on 10-12 October 2023. Applicants from outside the EU should be in possession of a valid visa allowing them to travel to Belgium in October 2023. EASE will only cover basic travel and accommodation costs for the event from locations within Europe. By submitting their application, candidates agree to allow their personal data, including the completed thesis, to be shared with EASE members.

Selection Procedure

The selection of the winning student will be performed by the EASE Secretariat and a selected committee of members. Students will be judged on the quality of the responses, the research design, and on the relevance of the research topic to the energy storage industry. The winner will be announced by the beginning of September 2023.

Instructions

Please complete the application form in full (personal information, abstract), attach your (draft) thesis, and return both documents to Ms Elina Cirule: e.cirule@ease-storage.eu.

The deadline for the application is Sunday, 16 July 2023. Candidates who do not comply with the eligibility criteria will be disqualified.

A printable flyer that can be sent out to students, posted on your website or printed for information boards is accessible here.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

20.03.2023 /

Voith Hydro and STRUCINSPECT advance monitoring of hydropower civil structures

Voith Hydro and STRUCINSPECT advance monitoring of hydropower civil structures
  • Strong partnership between experienced equipment supplier and successful corporate start-up from Austria.
  • Digital inspections lead to state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and lifecycle management.
  • First hydropower facility monitoring currently underway in Scotland.

HEIDENHEIM/VIENNA. Hydropower is the world’s largest source of renewable energy. In order to make the most of hydropower stations’ potential maximizing their service life is essential. Therefore, keeping structures, pipelines, and turbines in top condition is of utmost importance.

To tackle this challenge one of the world’s leading suppliers of hydroelectric equipment now partnered with the Austrian corporate start-up STRUCINSPECT.

STRUCINSPECT operates the world’s first Infrastructure Lifecycle Hub for digital infrastructure inspection and lifecycle management. The web-based collaboration platform is the core of the company’s portfolio and combines technologies and functions to maintain bridges, tunnels, and dams in a safe, sustainable, and resource-saving manner. Based on that STRUCINSPECT supports customers in transforming their existing infrastructure inspection and management into a fully digitalized process. Configurable technology building blocks allow for individual business solutions enabling effective maintenance decisions.

While the solution is already applied in the transportation infrastructure sector the immense potential for (hydropower) dams is now on the rise. Voith Hydro sees great value in the offering for operators worldwide.

“The idea is simple and at the same time ingenious. While it has been very complicated to literally keep an eye on your infrastructure, the digital assessment and tracking of civil conditions is now not only made easier but also safer,” explains Voith Hydro CTO Dr. Norbert Riedel.

Digital inspection in Scotland
A joint pilot project is now performed in Scotland where the inspection of the 72-year-old Clunie station is brought to the next level. Operator SSE Renewables is thereby taking a leadership role when it comes to digital inspection.

“We are excited about the new opportunities this technology brings and happy with the two companies we have on board for its implementation,” says Stephen Crooks, Renewables (Civil) Engineer at SSE. “With this approach, we have all data managed centrally and generate measurable business value out of it.”

“Currently, inspections of the civil infrastructure at Clunie take place physically,“ explains Albrecht Karlusch, Managing Director at STRUCINSPECT. “However, problems might occur in case damages are not spotted during such manual inspections. And this is exactly where the benefits of our digital inspection technology comes into play,” Karlusch continues.

The initial data can for example get collected by drones, underwater devices, or smartphones. This data is transferred to the so-called Infrastructure Lifecycle Hub, where it is getting analyzed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a 3D model is being created. Technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) integration or Augmented Reality (AR) can be used as well. In future, digital inspections will be performed in shorter intervals with less manual effort. Even the smallest changes will be identified by the AI-assisted damage detection. This analysis serves as a base for engineers’ maintenance decisions and focuses their precious resources on exactly this core element.

About STRUCINSPECT
Founded in 2019, the company provides services and expertise for digital inspection of essential infrastructure. Currently, STRUCINSPECT has more than 30 employees and – in addition to its headquarters in Vienna – has representatives in Germany and the USA. STRUCINSPECT is a joint venture of the PALFINGER AG, VCE Vienna Consulting Engineers ZT GmbH and ANGST Group.

Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.9 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Hydro is part of the Voith Group and a leading full-line supplier as well as trusted partner for equipping hydropower plants. Voith develops customized, long-term solutions and services for large and small hydro plants all over the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all major components for large and small hydro plants, from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems, right through to spare parts, maintenance and training services, and digital solutions for intelligent hydropower.

 

Drone view of a hydropower dam

 

Exemplary 3D model of a hydropower dam based on drone data

 

Infrastructure Lifecycle Hub

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

16.03.2023 /

Energy Storage Is a “Net-Zero Strategic Technology”, but an EU Strategy Must Follow

Energy Storage Is a “Net-Zero Strategic Technology”, but an EU Strategy Must Follow

16 March 2023: EASE – The European Association for Storage of Energy welcomes the proposed Net-Zero Industrial Act. It is encouraging to see that not only batteries, but all energy storage has been included as a Net-Zero Strategic Technology.

The inclusion of energy storage in the proposed Net-Zero Industrial Act is a welcome development, as it is a core strategic industry for Europe. Deploying enough storage capacity by 2030 and 2050 is crucial to meeting renewables and decarbonisation targets while ensuring energy security.

The definition of net-zero technology encompasses both electricity and heat storage. EASE welcome the Commission’s effort guarantee technology neutrality and a level-playing field for energy storage. Nonetheless, it is key to ensure that the definition of energy storage is in line with the Clean Energy Package, to ensure no technologies are unfairly excluded – e.g. those revolving around cooling.

The recognition of energy storage’s industrial potential is an opportunity to unlock jobs and investments across all Member States and make Europe the first net-zero continent. Shorter permitting with one-stop-shops, better access to financing for manufacturing, the possibility to easily employ skilled workers, and the introduction of regulatory sandboxes – that can benefit smaller and bigger players alike – are excellent measures.

Still, if the European Union aims to attract capital investment, an EU-wide energy storage strategy is needed. It would complement the Net-Zero Industry Act, providing a    clear political commitment and long-term investment signals.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

14.03.2023 /

Revised Electricity Market Design Embraces Energy Storage to Replace Fossil Fuel Flexibility

Revised Electricity Market Design Embraces Energy Storage to Replace Fossil Fuel Flexibility

14 March 2023: EASE – The European Association for Storage of Energy welcomes the European Commission’s raised ambition for energy storage in their proposed Electricity Market Design revision, which recognises the crucial role of energy storage in enabling the deployment of renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil generation. In this context, it is incredibly positive that the European Commission has decided to improve capacity markets, design flexibility support schemes, introduce national flexibility objectives, and encourage Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Historically, capacity mechanisms have provided long-term, lucrative contracts almost exclusively to fossil gas turbines under the justification of energy security. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated that relying on fossil fuel imports has detrimental consequences on security of supply. Therefore, the encouraging capacity mechanism reform can be further improved by gradually lowering the existing carbon cap, alongside longer contracts and higher capacity payments for carbon-neutral facilities.

EASE warmly welcomes the new national flexibility objectives. This mandates Member States and system operators to evaluate how much storage capacity is needed to ensure system security and renewable roll-out. A long-term perspective for energy storage bolsters investor confidence and accelerates deployment.

The proposed flexibility support schemes strike a good balance between providing revenue certainty and ensuring exposure to price signals, which is crucial for a healthy business case for energy storage projects. Similarly, supporting the deployment of renewable PPAs will provide long-term revenue streams, but time-matching generation and consumption would be key to ensure storage deployment goes in parallel with renewable uptake.

Finally, while the revision addresses demand reduction during peak hours, the proposed peak shaving product overlooks the potential of front-of-the-meter and co-located storage to shift energy and manage peaks – only behind-the-meter storage seems able to participate.

EASE applauds the European Commission’s efforts to improve the energy storage regulatory framework, and therefore its business case. While this new market design shows clear political commitment, only an energy storage strategy can provide the long-term investment signal needed to address the 200GW energy storage needs by 2030.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

13.03.2023 /

For the Success of Fit-for-55 and REPowerEU, the Future EU Electricity Market Design Has to Work for Energy Storage

For the Success of Fit-for-55 and REPowerEU, the Future EU Electricity Market Design Has to Work for Energy Storage

The upcoming revision of the electricity market design is an opportunity for the European Union to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and affordable energy system by boosting investment where it is most needed to achieve the Union’s Fit-for-55 and REPowerEU objectives. Energy storage must be deployed at a high speed and a large scale (2030 demand estimated at 200GW i.e. twice the current capacity) to offer cost-efficient solutions to increase the penetration of renewables in the system, contain electricity prices, and substitute fossil-based flexible generation while maintaining the security of supply.

In view of the upcoming publication of the European Commission’s proposal, Cleantech for Europe, Climate Strategy, EASE, Future Cleantech Architects, 1.5° Ventures, and InnoEnergy urge the co-legislators to untap the full potential of energy storage by introducing ambitious provisions.

  1. Strengthen the energy storage business case

The revised electricity market design must provide an appealing business case for energy storage projects to attract the necessary investment. The following measures should be introduced:

  • Provide new market products – in particular for peak shaving, curtailment prevention, and congestion management – to secure predictable revenue streams for storage, both utility-scale solutions (co-located with renewable generation or facilities placed at strategic locations on the grid) and behind-the-meter solutions.
  • Mandate a lower carbon cap in the Capacity Market and favour the participation of carbon-neutral facilities.
  • Ensure support schemes tailored to storage when market failures occur i.e. when the storage capacity deployed is not enough to ensure the flexibility needed in the system.
  • Encourage the participation of storage in the PPA market with a focus on 24/7 clean energy PPAs.
  1. Provide market visibility to attract and de-risk investment

Further market visibility for storage projects should be provided with the following measures:

  • Mandate energy storage targets at the Member State level, reflected in the NECPs, addressing flexibility needs from seconds to seasons.

If the right conditions for energy storage are set – with strong market signals for flexibility, harmonised capacity mechanisms and support schemes for storage facilities, and swift implementation of the new framework – it will play a key role in helping the European Union offer consumers a secure, sustainable, and affordable electricity supply.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

09.03.2023 /

Voith Hydro opens new center of competence for generator components

Voith Hydro opens new center of competence for generator components
  • Portfolio covers bars, coils, and poles for hydropower generators.
  • Located in central Europe the state-of-the art facility supplies Voith Hydro’s African and European markets as well as the Americas.
  • Local officials and company representatives inaugurated the new generator component hub at the end of last year.

 

LUKAVAC, BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA. Voith Hydro officially opened the doors of its newly established centre of competence for generator components in Bosnia and Hercegovina six months ago. The location in Lukavac (Tuzla) will be serving western markets; from North and Latin America to Europe and Africa.

The new location is only 1.5 flight hours away from Voith Hydro’s German headquarters in Heidenheim. Its’ set-up was closely aligned with experts from the company’s central technology department in Germany, where essential R&D functions for generator components are based.

Apart from the proximity to the headquarters, customers benefit from the closeness to the mainly European supplier base of insulation materials which ensures efficiency and smooth operations. Additionally, Voith Hydro is in close collaboration with the Bosnian facility of ELIN Motoren, a Voith company, which is successfully producing motor and generator coils as well as wind generator components in the immediate neighbourhood.

 

Pole production already in full swing

Works at the facility began in 2021 and initial test productions could already be performed in February 2022. After successful acceptance tests, the pole production started with first orders for hydropower stations in Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Switzerland. The success speaks for itself: the company’s project pipelines for all production lines (poles, bars, and coils) are filled.

 

World-class bars and coils

Just like the poles, bars, and coils underwent demanding life-cycle simulations and high-voltage tests. These have been completed to full satisfaction and do not only meet international standards but also the even higher internal quality aspirations.

“With this facility, we bundle our competence for bars, coils, and poles. The location in central Europe is ideal to serve not only the European market but also Africa, the Americas, or even beyond”, says Dr. Tobias Keitel, President & CEO Voith Hydro. First customers mirror this with their positive feedback: “We were deeply impressed by the state-of-the-art workshop”, says Luc Reinig, Technical Director at Société Electrique de l’Our in Luxembourg.

 

Voith Group

The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.9 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Division of the Voith Hydro Group integrates the Voith Group and is a market leader, in addition to a reliable partner for the provision of equipment for hydroelectric power plants. Voith develops customized, long-term services and solutions for large and small hydropower plants around the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire cycle and all the main components of large and small hydropower complexes, ranging from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems to spare parts, maintenance services, training, and digital solutions for smart hydroelectric power.

 

The new Voith Hydro location in Bosnia and Hercegovina is ready to deliver generator components to customers worldwide.

 

State-of-the-art machines and processes are set up in the new location.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

17.02.2023 /

ION Renewables Signs Exclusivity Agreement to Bring Mitsubishi Power’s Emerald Storage Solutions to Ireland

ION Renewables Signs Exclusivity Agreement to Bring Mitsubishi Power’s Emerald Storage Solutions to Ireland

The Battery Energy Storage Projects Will Add 185.5 Megawatt / 371 Megawatt-hours of Fast Frequency and Capacity Response

LAKE MARY, Fla. (June 23, 2022) – Renewable energy developer Ion Renewables, Ltd. (ION Renewables) has signed an exclusivity agreement with Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. (Mitsubishi Power) for four battery energy storage system (BESS) projects using Mitsubishi Power’s Emerald storage solutions totaling 185.5 megawatt (MW) / 371 megawatt-hours (MWh) in Ireland. These projects will provide Secure Sustainable Electric System (DS3) energy storage and system services including fast frequency and capacity response to Ireland’s National Grid, enabling the addition of more renewable energy. All four projects will be located at brownfield sites with existing electrical interconnects.

In addition to providing frequency response to the National Grid, the BESS projects will support three major energy initiative programs for Ireland and the European Union:

  • Ireland’s Climate Action Plan to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050
  • EirGrid Group’s DS3 program that addresses the challenges of integrating world-leading levels of renewable generation into the grid and targets having 70% of Ireland’s electricity come from renewables by 2030
  • REPowerEU’s draft directive, which seeks to eliminate imported gas by 2030 and diversify energy sources

“We are delighted to be working with the Mitsubishi Power team to deliver these important projects,” said John Ward, Director, ION Renewables. “These installations represent a viable and economical solution to balance the network, strongly aligning with the principles of the REPowerEU draft directive. These projects demonstrate that effective solutions for storing energy can be achieved by utilizing renewable power that would otherwise be curtailed.”

Scheduled to come online in 2024, the four BESS projects will be Mitsubishi Power’s first in Europe, bringing the total global deployment of its Emerald storage solutions to more than 2 gigawatt-hours (GWh).

Mitsubishi Power’s Emerald storage solutions for Ion Renewables include project engineering, equipment supply, and a 10-year long-term service agreement.

According to Tom Cornell, Senior Vice President, Energy Storage Solutions, Mitsubishi Power Americas, these projects emphasize the importance of BESS adoption as a viable solution with more countries striving to meet their climate action goals. “Bringing our Emerald storage solutions to Ireland and working with Ion Renewables is an exciting moment for us. The continued adoption of battery storage technologies outside of the United States and the recognition of the important role they play in enabling renewable energy generation to reach

net-zero cannot be overstated. Mitsubishi Power’s Emerald storage solutions will help Ireland reach its goal of 70% generation from renewable sources while ensuring the stability of the grid with a secure power system.”

Full press release can be found here.

 

Read more about some of Mitsubishi Power’s BESS projects:

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

16.02.2023 /

First horizontal, six-nozzle Pelton turbine – Voith Hydro sets new benchmarks at Gerlos 1 power plant

First horizontal, six-nozzle Pelton turbine – Voith Hydro sets new benchmarks at Gerlos 1 power plant
  • Voith Hydro reaches milestone in Pelton technology
  • At the Gerlos 1 pumped storage power plant in Tyrol, energy utility Verbund replaces four turbines by one thanks to new concept
  • Great potential for upgrading hydropower plants worldwide

GERMANY/AUSTRIA. The trial operation of the first horizontal, six-nozzle Pelton turbine at the Gerlos 1 power plant has been running successfully for over two months now, and is setting new benchmarks.

In the Pelton turbine, which is especially suited to plants with high heads, the water is directed by forming free jets at very high velocity from one or several nozzles to the Pelton runner. Until now, Pelton turbines with more than three nozzles have always been designed with a vertical shaft. The main reason for this was that it allowed higher efficiency than a horizontal arrangement.

Voith Hydro has now successfully eliminated this drawback, as demonstrated in the Gerlos 1 power plant, where for the first time, an efficiency level comparable to that of the vertical configuration has been achieved. The plant’s existing four vertical Pelton turbines were successfully replaced by one six-nozzle horizontal Pelton wheel.

Applications
In addition to this application, the technology is of particular interest for upgrades of existing hydropower plants where single- or double-nozzle horizontal units are already installed. This is because the turbine can be replaced without major structural works, which significantly reduces civil costs and installation times. At the same time, there is enormous potential for increasing efficiency. The associated potential reduction in the number of turbines can likewise lower future maintenance costs. The new development is also a winning solution for new systems, as it requires less excavation and is more compact with a smaller footprint than conventional solutions. This is also associated with a shorter installation time, which substantially reduces the overall investment costs.

Ongoing development work
The interaction between the water jet and the buckets of the Pelton wheel is extremely short, often just a few milliseconds. This is why the flow simulation of Pelton turbines is by far the most complex and difficult of all hydraulic turbomachinery simulations. Voith Hydro has refined the methods in recent years such that the housing flow can now also be analyzed. This important advance also made a significant contribution to the development of the new concept.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Voith Hydro has supplied thousands of Pelton turbines in a wide range of sizes and outputs all over the world. For many years now, the company in Germany has been conducting intensive research on the concept of multi-nozzle, horizontal Pelton units. The resulting developments of all horizontal Pelton turbines with more than three nozzles are grouped under the designation “HP3+”.

Last year, Voith Hydro experts presented the technology at a leading hydropower conference in Vienna. This world premiere was preceded by extensive tests and pilot programs at the company’s own R&D center in Heidenheim. The first customers, including Austrian utility Verbund, are already using the innovative design.

About Gerlos 1
The Gerlos 1 power plant is a pumped storage facility in the Ziller Valley in Tyrol. Commissioned in 1949, it has an annual output of 326 GWh, allowing it to supply renewable energy to more than 70,000 four-person households.

Impressive transport operation
Even before the new unit was commissioned, the spectacular transport operation for the turbine housing was already causing a stir. At the beginning of April 2022, this 54-ton giant left the grounds of the Voith Hydro plant in St. Poelten, Austria. Apart from its weight, the dimensions of the unit were also impressive: just under nine meters long, more than six meters wide and over four meters high. This logistical masterstroke could be accomplished by means of a heavy transport operation taking an entire three nights.

Voith Group
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, the company today has around 21,000 employees, sales of € 4.9 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the larger family-owned companies in Europe.

The Group Division Voith Hydro is part of the Voith Group and a leading full line supplier as well as trusted partner for equipping hydropower plants. Voith develops customized, long-term solutions and services for large and small hydro plants all over the world. Its portfolio of products and services covers the entire life cycle and all major components for large and small hydro plants, from generators, turbines, pumps and automation systems, right through to spare parts, maintenance and training services, and digital
solutions for intelligent hydropower.

Loading of the 54-ton turbine housing at the Voith Hydro plant in St. Poelten

Special transport of the 6.5m wide turbine housing from St. Poelten to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol

Impressions from the Pelton test rig at Voith Hydro’s “Brunnenmühle” R&D Center in Germany

Modern flow simulation

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

07.02.2023 /

EU Project TwinVECTOR

EU Project TwinVECTOR

Zlín/Czech Republic – New battery technologies that are affordable and sustainable over the entire life cycle are crucial to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal. As part of the EU project TwinVECTOR, the centre of excellence at the Tomas Bata University (TBU) in Zlín, Czech Republic, is to be expanded technically and institutionally with the support of the consortium partners to enable multidisciplinary national and international project teams to network, create synergies and work together on the further development of battery energy storage technologies. The EU is supporting the recently launched project with EUR 1.3 million over a period of three years. Five partners from the Czech Republic, Germany, Finland and Austria are participating in the project coordinated by the Tomas Bata University.

The demand for batteries is growing rapidly and is expected to grow 14-fold by 2030 compared to 20181. According to requirements from Brussels, batteries used in the EU must have a high charge density and capacity, as well as be cost-efficient, durable, safe and reusable. They must also be sustainably produced with the least possible environmental impact from materials extracted in full compliance with social and environmental standards.

Networking for top performance

The consortium behind the EU project TwinVECTOR is addressing this challenge and is jointly expanding the centre of excellence at the Tomas Bata University (TBU). Networking with international players from science and business is intended to create a pool of knowledge for new battery energy storage technologies, from laboratory to market. This involves the sustainable and responsible production of battery energy storage systems over the entire life cycle. The batteries should have a higher energy density with lower costs and higher sustainability in production. The focus is on developing sustainable (e.g. renewable or bio-based) materials for lithium-ion batteries. In order to strengthen the TBU’s research activities, the project partners are contributing their various areas of expertise. For instance, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (VTT, Finland) supports the consortium with its expertise in material development, while the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT, Germany) provides its expertise in the field of life cycle analysis and the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT, Austria) offers its knowledge in energy storage systems.

Strengthening research capacity through institutional cooperation

TwinVECTOR is financed as part of the “Twinning” funding scheme of the EU, which supports institutional cooperation and the exchange of best practices between the public administrations of the EU member states and beneficiary or partner countries. Within this framework, the TwinVECTOR consortium wishes to tackle the topic of battery development and production in a multidisciplinary manner and bring together national and international project teams from science and industry in the areas of chemistry, electronics, automotive and beyond.

This pooling of research capacities is intended to generate new research ideas that are reflected in scientific publications, conferences, international networking, EU projects and, ultimately, new products on the market. The aim is also to develop an exchange between the individual partner institutions in order, on the one hand, to sharpen the research profile of the individual scientists at the TBU and, on the other, to expand the expertise of the administrative staff. Workshops are to be organized on various topics, for instance on EU research funding (incl. EU application writing and EU project management). In addition, training on methodological trends in the individual research areas of the consortium partners (e.g. life cycle assessment and techno-economics) will also be provided. The project partner Bavarian Research Alliance GmbH (BayFOR) will provide support in all matters relating to research funding.

The Czech Republic is one of the “widening countries” in the EU, i.e. it is a country with capacity for innovation and research that can be expanded. The networking activities of the partner institutions as part of the TwinVECTOR project are intended to enable the TBU to successfully participate in international research projects, expand its networking activities and increase its attractiveness as a centre of research. “By intensively exchanging ideas, research results and services as well as through institutional cooperation, we are not only able to increase the visibility of the TBU in the European research area, but also support the EU in making European battery technology competitive and achieving its goals within the framework of the Green Deal,” says the coordinator of the TwinVECTOR project Dr Viera Pechancova at the Tomas Bata University. Not only the TBU, but also the other project partners benefit from the TwinVECTOR project. The cooperation will create and strengthen long-term partnerships with the participating partners so that new relationships of collaboration can be established for further research projects beyond the project.

Source:
1 Factsheet Sustainable batteries in their full life-cycle (europa.eu)

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

01.02.2023 /

Energy Storage is a Key Strategic Asset for the European Union’s Industrial Future

Energy Storage is a Key Strategic Asset for the European Union’s Industrial Future

1 February 2023: EASE – The European Association for Storage of Energy – is encouraged by the European Commission’s recently unveiled communication on the Green Deal Industrial Policy. EASE regrets that a leaked text from 30 January 2023 was more explicit in its support for energy storage; nonetheless EASE is confident that energy storage’s importance will be recognised once the European Commission assesses it as a core strategic industry to reach climate neutrality. 

The European Union should give fair recognition to the critical role that energy storage plays in the energy system and the need to unlock energy storage’s industrial potential. Europe’s energy storage sector is a global leader in clean tech, but oftentimes, its role is not fully recognised by policymakers. This hinders necessary investments, as resources are deployed where there is clear political commitment to energy storage. In this sense, the Green Deal Industrial Policy offers an optimal opportunity for the European Commission to do so. Energy storage should be considered in the context of the harmonised European Union industrial capacity goals for 2030. This would be a  game-changer and a signal of clear political commitment. In the past, EASE highlighted that an energy storage strategy with targets would put Europe’s industrial policy on track for net-zero. 

EASE agrees that simplification and acceleration of incentives is needed to make Europe attractive and competitive. Especially as energy storage firms struggle to access finance, better support schemes and aid should be made available to ensure clean tech deployment. Lengthy permitting and skilled labour shortages are also barriers to the energy storage sector, so it is positive that the European Commission is looking at these matters.  

As the Green Deal Industrial Policy progresses, EASE urges the European Commission to reinstate and expand its ambitions for the energy storage industry in securing our net-zero future.  

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

25.01.2023 /

Welcome on Board Kyoto Group

Welcome on Board Kyoto Group

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member, Kyoto Group, who joined EASE in December 2022. Ms Camilla Nilsson, CEO at Kyoto Group, accepted to discuss Kyoto Group’s expertise in energy storage with us, and their expectations from this collaboration with EASE.

EASE: Ms Camilla Nilsson, thank you very much for accepting this interview. We are very happy to have Kyoto Group among our members and we would like to know more about your activities in the sector. Could you summarise the most interesting insights from the work of your company for energy storage?

We make renewable energy an easy choice. Kyoto is a thermal battery company, so the storage of heat. We are storing the energy as heat because that is the major demand. Our focus is to decarbonise process heat, using nothing but electricity, with a proven technology, that is available today, and take a significant role in electrifying heat. 

EASE: We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with you and to receiving Kyoto Group inputs for our Working Groups and Task Forces. What created the interest of your company to join EASE?

We know that half of the energy demand in the world is heat. We know that it is almost entirely produced by fossil fuels, and that it is responsible for 40% of the CO2 emissions today. And yet this is not talked about as a vehicle and an accelerator to decarbonise society. As a technology provider, policy maker and association, we have a responsibility to amplify our message and enable the industry to make the decision to electrify its process heat – we hold the key to make this happen. 

EASE: What is your vision for how energy storage can contribute to the energy transition?

There’s now a need to replace or reduce industrial gas and help the industry to reduce their dependency on unreliable energy prices. The industry is desperate to find solutions and there’s storage technologies already available, that can help.
There is 25,900 TWh of heat needed in the industry today and half of this can be electrified (temperatures up to around 500 degrees). The market is significant, and we can tap into this and start their electrification journey today. So, our vision is to give the industry a choice.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

24.01.2023 /

Estonia’s first energy storage project gets green light for construction

Estonia’s first energy storage project gets green light for construction

Estonia’s first large-scale energy storage project, Zero Terrain, has received an official permit and construction can go ahead. Developed by Energiasalv, the 550 MW underground pumped-hydro storage plant has minor environmental and land-use impact and can therefore be implemented in urban areas. The project enables the deployment of renewable energy generation in the region and significantly lowers consumers’ electricity bills.

“Emission-free energy with a high security of supply at an affordable price is only possible with large-scale and long-term energy storage. I am proud that Energiasalv’s Zero Terrain project can provide the region with an energy supply that will meet future requirements,” said Peep Siitam, the CEO of Energiasalv. “Considering we are in the middle of an energy crisis, our team is moving at a speed and strength comparable to the water itself,” added Siitam.

“Having completed our permitting process with the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, we are glad to announce that we will continue with the pre-qualification for the construction procurement in the beginning of February. We aim to finalize the tender process by the end of 2023 and start construction on the project in the summer of 2024,”said Sander Astor, the Chief Technical Officer of Energiasalv. 

Energiasalv’s underground pumped-hydro storage is a 550MW “water battery” to be built in Paldiski, northwestern Estonia. The project’s 6GWh storage capacity during one storage cycle of 12 hours is sufficient to provide electricity at affordable prices to consumers when there’s no wind or solar power available. The production is comparable to the average daily electricity consumption of Estonian households.

Energiasalv’s Zero Terrain is an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI project). Being the strategic infrastructure project, its preparation has been supported by the Connecting Europe Facility – managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Energiasalv is owned by the Estonian energy company AS Alexela, Baltic-Polish renewable energy company Sunly AS, and Vool OÜ belonging to the company’s CEO.

For more information, please click here.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

20.01.2023 /

InterSTORE Project is Officially Launched

InterSTORE Project is Officially Launched

The EU-funded project InterSTORE officially started on 1 January 2023. InterSTORE stands for Interoperable open-source tools to enable hybridisation, utilisation, and monetisation of storage flexibility. This is a HORIZON Innovation Action, funded by the European Union with the total grant amount of nearly 3.5 mil €.

Project consortium gathered in Aachen, Germany, for a kick-off meeting that was followed by the visit to the Julich Energy Campus Living Lab. The meeting announced the beginning of a productive cooperation that is about to deliver innovative solutions in energy storage within the 3-year long project. The consortium has 12 diverse partners, coming from Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and Portugal.

Today, storage is one of the most critical assets for modern energy systems. At the same time storage is a very diverse universe of solutions and technologies with very different characteristics. InterSTORE plans to address this complexity by developing an innovative middleware that, while virtualizing the storage technology, will simplify its use from the point of view of integration platform thanks to a technology agnostic approach.

The middleware solution will be integrated both in open source and commercial platforms that will be incorporated in 4 large real-life demos to enhance the successfully flexibility platforms and check the user acceptance and economic value of the new solution.

InterSTORE has also a strong focus towards impact. First of all, the solution will become part of already running commercial platforms making sure that a real adoption will be deployed beyond project end. The consortium will make sure the software maintenance will continue after the end of the project with the support of Linux Foundation Energy and that the work done will be considered by on-going standardization activities.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

09.01.2023 /

The second StoRIES Transnational Access Call

The second StoRIES Transnational Access Call

StoRIES is a four-year EU-funded project which aims to facilitate and accelerate the energy transition, in particular in the field of new materials for energy storage and hybrid energy storage solutions. In order to achieve more performing, competitive and cost-effective energy storage devices, the project fosters a European ecosystem of industry and research organisations on energy storage technologies aimed at developing novel concepts and technologies. StoRIES brings together a consortium of more than 30 beneficiaries from 17 countries, including ESFRI landmarks, technology institutes, universities and industrial partners to jointly improve the economic performance of storage technologies.

Second StoRIES TransNational Access Call

Through StoRIES Transnational Access (TNA) calls, researchers can have free access to 64 world-class Research Infrastructures, addressing all five technology areas from electrochemical energy storage over to chemical, thermal, mechanical up to superconducting magnetic energy storage. The second call for accessing the research infrastructures is now open:  https://www.storiesproject.eu/calls

Call topic: Solutions for hybrid energy storage systems to enable long-duration stationary storage

Date of closing: 31.01.2023

The call topic is open to different sources of innovation: material research, development and testing of a component, device or device cluster, simulation of systems or system components, etc. and the integration of the innovation in the energy system.

The topic addresses a multitude of different energy storage technologies and their combinations for enabling long-duration (from several hours to months) energy storage and is explicitly open to all TRLs. ​Further assessment of the EU energy storage needs (regardless of short or long-duration) is also strongly invited and encouraged. For additional information, please visit StoRIES website.

 

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.12.2022 /

Energy Storage Policy Developments in 2022

Energy Storage Policy Developments in 2022

As the world was starting to recover from the COVID-19 emergency, in early 2022 another crisis struck: with the Russian invasion of Ukraine starting in late February, almost the entirety of the European Commission activities for 2022 shifted away from the foreseen Working Programme to focus on sanctions and new measures to ensure security of supply. The situation aggravated in the past months: with winter approaching, gas reserves needed to be filled to ensure heating and electricity would be available to industries and citizens for the coming seasons, and sky-high prices started impacting the continent.

REPowerEU and Energy Storage Alliance/ Energy security needs Energy Storage

The main energy policy file of this year is surely REPowerEU, published in May to address the Ukrainian crisis: has highlighted in EASE briefing, it contains several proposals, starting from a general REPowerEU Communications (pointing out the essential role energy storage has in ensuring security of supply by providing energy shifting services), a solar strategy, amendments to RED, EED, Recovery and Resilience Plans, accelerated permitting procedures, and others.

Namely, EASE made sure that standalone storage facilities (in addition to co-located) will benefit of the new accelerated permitting procedures, and that all REPowerEU files appropriately mention energy storage and its role in ensuring security of supply.

On this note, a fruitful collaboration with Breakthrough Energy, SolarPower Europe, and WindEurope started earlier this year: a joint letter and a live event in Brussels, discussing renewables and storage-based security of supply, have been well received among stakeholders and policymakers, ensuring a larger audience and strong outreach for EASE positions. The collaboration keeps bringing benefits, within the Innovation Hub and several other initiatives.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine: emergency measures for high electricity prices

More recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine brought further instability in already volatile EU electricity markets: high prices and uncertain gas supplies have urged policymakers to issue several measures to “keep the lights on” at an affordable price. The cap on marginal prices (not directly affecting energy storage) has been the most controversial: nonetheless, the storage industry can reap the benefits of accelerated permitting measures that have been proposed in November in a new Council Regulation calling for an emergency framework to fast-track solar and co-located facilities permitting. EASE is in contact with relevant policymakers to include standalone storage and avoid unduly discrimination.

Fit for 55 – Development for Renewable Energy Directive, permitting, Energy Efficiency Directive, and Energy Taxation Directive

The Fit for 55 Package, issued in summer 2021 to make the energy system up to date with new decarbonisation targets (55% GHG emissions reduction by 2030) is in the pipeline for approval by the co-decision bodies (Parliament and Council).

Most files have now reached trilogues, and will be most probably approved in Q1 2023: a series of briefings is available on our website. EASE has successfully engaged with policymakers at all levels to include relevant provisions for energy storage: notably, the plenary Parliament draft for REDIII includes a definition for co-located energy storage facilities, and the possibility for Member States to set up national storage capacity targets. An effective engagement with national representations being carried out by the Policy team, in order to ensure these important changes are kept in the final REDIII draft.

An exception is the Energy Taxation Directive: given the current conditions it has dropped down among the Council priorities for the year, and it will be re-discussed in 2023. EASE is engaging with stakeholders and policymakers to make sure the abolition of double taxation becomes a reality at EU-level (following the example of The Netherlands).

Digitalisation

EASE has taken part in the European Commission Public Consultation for the adoption of an Action Plan on the Digitalisation of the Energy Sector. EASE supports this initiative for the digitalisation of the energy sector which has the potential to play a key role in the energy transition towards a decarbonised European Union.

Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package

After engaging with the European Commission to ensure energy storage is always able to feed into an electrolyser to produce green hydrogen, EASE has followed closely topics related to additionality in hydrogen production and the creation of a decarbonised gas market; the additionality Regulations are now sent back to the Commission after the Parliament struck down the additionality principle during a RED vote, and will be re-issued next year.

Battery Regulation

Due to several delays at different legislative levels, the Battery Regulation has yet to be approved: the initial deadlines are now unrealistic, mainly because the three legislative bodies disagree on the scope of the Regulation itself. The draft approved in the European Parliament plenary is not reflecting the diversity of the battery ecosystem, and could add regulatory complexity in an already extremely regulated segment, such as battery safety, recycling and reuse. Several implementing acts are then to be expected by the European Commission to define technical details of the different requirements laid out in the Regulation – EASE will keep following the developments.

Innovation Hub and LDES Collaboration

EASE started fruitful collaborations during the past year: on one hand, the Climate Innovation Hub is a platform that aims at supporting the policies, instruments and investments that deliver the innovations that the EU needs to be climate neutral by 2050. Its members include Cleantech for Europe, E3G, the University of Cambridge, T&E, Agora Energiewende, and others. Its purposeis for Hub members to coordinate and act in concert to deliver greatest direct impact on agreed Hub objectives. This requires information sharing, exchange of views and insights, joint actions, media outreach and aligned advocacy. Another collaboration that kept growing through the year is with the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Council – different internal activities (Working Groups and general coordination) as well as public events (as the joint webinar on policy recommendations for Energy Storage that was held in September).

TYNDP

In 2022 ENTSO-E started the process for the next 10-year network development plan (TYNDP) cycle for 2024. EASE has worked with ACER, who is drafting the framework guidelines for the scenarios to be drawn up. EASE has responded to its consultation aiming to ensure that gas and electricity scenarios are harmonised, and that the energy storage sector is consulted throughout the process.

More files have been followed by the EASE Policy Team this year: approval of the new State Aid Guidelines, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, ETS and CBAM: follow our bi-weekly policy update to get all key developments in EU energy and climate policy we are working on.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

15.12.2022 /

REPowerEU Rules on Accelerated Permitting Apply to all Energy Storage

REPowerEU Rules on Accelerated Permitting Apply to all Energy Storage

15 December 2022: On the 14 December 2022, the European Parliament, in plenary session, voted on the REPowerEU amendments to the Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives. Unveiled in May, the objective of the Directives is to strengthen European energy security, jeopardised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The European Commission proposal outlined new rules to speed up renewable projects, but only included co-located energy storage under the projects that could access such favourable treatment. EASE welcomes the decision of the European Parliament to include all energy storage (standalone as well as co-located with renewables) under the new, accelerated permitting rules for renewable projects in identified go-to areas. Permitting is often a problem for energy storage developers, where the process can take years and changes dramatically from country to country.  Similarly, it is positive that outside renewable acceleration areas the permitting procedure has also been streamlined. It is important in implementation to clarify that these procedures should be accessible to all energy storage – only including co-located storage would be a missed opportunity.

Setting clear timelines and developing better provisions on permitting for energy storage will render it even more attractive to investors and accelerate its deployment. EASE fully agrees that energy storage should be presumed to be in the overriding public interest in all permitting procedures. Energy storage can in fact support the growth of renewables in the energy system and ensure security of supply by providing its unique energy shifting ability, as well as its much-needed flexibility services.

The new Renewable Energy Directive draft is bound to positively impact the energy storage industry as a whole by unlocking several projects and speeding up facilities’ development all across the EU. If the European Union follows this path, the decarbonisation of the energy system can be successfully achieved.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

13.12.2022 /

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

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.”

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

21.11.2022 /

Long duration energy storage to scale in second half of 2030s, says DNV

Long duration energy storage to scale in second half of 2030s, says DNV

Long duration energy storage technologies like flow batteries, compressed air or gravity-based solutions look set to enter the market at scale in the second half of the 2030s, according to the DNV Energy Transition Outlook.

The global assurance and risk management provider’s annual flagship report on the global energy transition predicts a 16-fold increase in variable renewable energy source capacity over the next 30 years. This will increase the need for flexibility between two- and four-fold, a need which can be filled by energy storage.

As reported by our sister site PV Tech, DNV also expects solar power to account for 38% of all electricity production by 2050 and that one third of that will be from solar farms with co-located energy storage. This will be helped by the capture price advantage of co-located projects versus standalone PV surpassing the deployment cost differential between the two by 2038.

Part of that will be due to cost reductions on the battery side. The report estimates that current supply chain shocks have merely delayed lithium-ion battery cell costs falling to below US$100/kWh by a year and that over the longer term, an 80% reduction can be expected by 2050.

Solid-state batteries offer the best potential for the next wave in performance and cost improvements, it added, and newer battery chemistries have the potential to increase the speed at which batteries are deployed for energy storage. But, DNV doesn’t see these deviating too far from its long-term ‘learning rate’ annual average cost reduction of 19%.

On discharge durations, the report gave its view on the relationship between deployment levels and duration across global energy storage markets. When storage capacity exceeds 0.5% of grid capacity, BESS units tend to shift towards capacity provision (mainly through price arbitrage) and away from merely providing frequency response services.

As this trend continues, longer duration batteries like flow, zinc-based, compressed air and liquid air batteries or gravity-based solutions will have more value. DNV expects these to enter the market at scale in the second half of the 2030s.

Discussing seasonal storage, which requires durations of days or months, the report discussed gas storage as much as electricity storage. It cited the ACES Delta green hydrogen project in Utah as a good example of a large-scale project in development.

DNV, although conceding it is the least cost-effective use of the technology, expects green hydrogen for electricity storage to start being used in North America from the 2040s, and more widely by the middle of the century.

The report is also bullish on the role that vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology can play, saying that from 2040 onwards its impact will almost be as large as that of stationary lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) and pumped hydro energy storage, at 220TWh a year. Energy-Storage.news recently wrote about the challenges in scaling V2G in the consumer vehicle space.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

21.11.2022 /

TotalEnergies, 1414 Degrees, others join LDES Council in Q3

TotalEnergies, 1414 Degrees, others join LDES Council in Q3

Oil and gas major TotalEnergies, thermal energy storage system company 1414 Degrees and six other companies have joined the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Council.

The CEO-led organisation, founded at COP26 last year, said the new members have joined towards the end of quarter three.

The LDES Council has welcomed four new technology members – companies providing long duration energy storage solutions – and four new anchor members – companies with interests or operations within the broader energy sector.

The new technology members are: molten silicon thermal energy storage system (TESS) provider 1414 Degreeshigh-density hydro energy storage startup RheEnergise, broader heating solutions company Thermowatt and Mine Storage, a company which says it operates medium-to-large-scale power storage solutions in underground mines.

New anchor members are UAE state-owned aluminium conglomerate Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), energy company EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, mining and metals group South32, and TotalEnergies.

The Council was set up to enable the deployment of between 85TWh and 140TWh of long-duration energy storage worldwide by 2040. It recently said the LDES sector will need significant policy support to achieve this until 2030-35.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

20.10.2022 /

5% of new capacity from “Innovative” Renewable Energy: A necessary and do-able enhancement to the Renewable Energy Directive

5% of new capacity from “Innovative” Renewable Energy: A necessary and do-able enhancement to the Renewable Energy Directive

On 26 September 2022, the European Parliament agreed on its position on the revised Renewable Energy Directive, which include three amendments with set targets for Member States. Firstly, a target for 5% of renewable energy capacity to be “innovative”, demand-side flexibility of 5% of peak electricity, and for Member States to set non-binding energy storage targets for 2030.

EASE’s contribution to this paper highlights that energy storage targets will facilitate the further penetration of renewable electricity into the electricity grid and buffer new grid-connected loads that will need to run 24/7 to be economical, like electrolysers.

The European Parliament’s position does not outline the metric for this target, i.e. whether capacity should be measured simply in GW or in GWh also. Spain has already outlined its own energy storage strategy, setting itself a target of 20 GW of energy storage by 2030. The amendment is the starting point for a full EU-level strategy on energy storage, with a 2030 target, subdivided into binding national targets.

 

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

18.10.2022 /

Energy Storage Gains Momentum

Energy Storage Gains Momentum

The Energy Storage Global Conference 2022 (ESGC), held in Brussels on 11-13 October, and organised by the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE), as a hybrid event, gathered over 350 key stakeholders, and addressed energy storage policies, markets and technologies.

Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, in charge of Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, launched the first day with a keynote speech, stating the “deployment of energy storage solutions in Europe must accelerate.” Mr. Šefčovič acknowledged that energy storage “…will help facilitate the integration of renewables and the electrification of the economy, while increasing the flexibility and security of the energy system.” Commissioner Šefčovič highlighted energy storage as key to decarbonising the economy, reinforcing the EU’s resilience and achieving strategic autonomy. In the second keynote speech, Mike Gravely, Team Lead Energy Technology System Integration at the California Energy Commission, presented the role of energy storage in California’s clean energy future, asserting that “without energy storage, we would not have been able to tackle the extreme weather events that have hit California in the past weeks.” Catharina Sikow-Magny, Director at the European Commission, declared “[…] the so-called energy-only market has had its time. We need to fully agree that we need long-term markets […] we need a review on how the capacity remuneration mechanism works.” 

The first day also included presentations delivered by sector experts and panel discussions, focused on topics, such as the political support required for energy storage uptake, energy market design, energy storage policy implementation and the decarbonisation of the energy system. 

On the second day, a representative from the European Investment Bank, Manuel Baritaud, described the economic viability of energy storage technologies and the types of funding available, followed by sessions on minimising curtailment, moving away from fossil fuels, the challenges and opportunities for investments in both mature and maturing markets around the world, as well as the role of TSOs and DSOs in ensuring a functioning market for energy storage. 

Speakers from the European Commission, including Piotr Szymański, Director at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), provided insight on the JRC’s vision for energy storage on the third day of the conference. A variety of specific topics related to energy storage technologies were addressed in breakout sessions: optimising infrastructure, combined energy storage technologies, long duration energy storage, raw materials, modelling frameworks, minimising the environmental footprint, interoperability and digitalisation. The third day concluded that energy storage technologies will enable and accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy.  

This fifth edition of the Energy Storage Global Conference united 11 exhibitors and over 85 speakers and moderators, and marked a new phase for the energy storage sector, which is quickly gaining momentum. 

 

To learn more about the ESGC, visit https://ease-storage.eu/category/esgc/ 

For more information about EASE: https://ease-storage.eu/about-ease/who-we-are/ 

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

20.09.2022 /

Everything You Need to Know About ESGC 2022

Everything You Need to Know About ESGC 2022

The Energy Storage Global Conference 2022 (ESGC), organised by EASE, in collaboration with European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, is less than three weeks away! Winter is coming, and along with recent events, there is no better time than the present to unite industry, researchers, and policymakers, and foster the dialogue on energy storage. Place your products and messages in the hands of prospective clients from leading companies and policymakers, and register at www.esgc.org.

First launched in 2014, this fifth edition of the ESGC will gather key representatives during three days, in Brussels at Hotel Le Plaza, on 11-13 October 2022, to exchange views on key issues faced by the energy storage sector. Each day will address, through in-depth panel discussions, keynote speeches, and presentations, delivered by energy storage experts, the regulatory and policy frameworks, the future of the storage market, and the latest developments in energy storage technologies. The ESGC is a major platform for industry representatives, innovators, researchers and representatives from European Institutions and national governments, to exchange views and recommendations to further the deployment of energy storage.

Quality, rather than quantity, has always been the focus of the ESGC editions, whether it be related to the programme, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and participants. Through the ESGC, EASE offers delegates memorable networking opportunities in an accessible and central location: Brussels, the heart of European policymaking – gathering key representatives from the energy storage sector from all over the world. It’s a one-of-a-kind event, and this is made clear through the unique programme and activities you can expect at each ESGC.

11 October – Day 1: Policy

After a networking reception in the magnificent halls of Hotel Le Plaza, Policy Day will be launched by Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, followed by noteworthy presentations and panel discussions, which include speakers and moderators from the European Parliament, the European Commission, EASE members, such as Enel X and EDF, as well as key actors of the energy system and energy storage sector. Interested in learning about the policies that will govern your projects in the upcoming years? – There’s not one session you’ll want to miss. Networking breaks will take place in between sessions, during which, delegates can connect and visit company representatives at their exhibition booths and learn about their latest innovations. Day 1 will conclude with an Opening Dinner, in an exceptional Art Nouveau location, the Belgian Comic Strip Centre. Open to all ESGC 2022 participants, this informal networking event is the place to develop lasting connections within the energy storage community. You will also have free access to the Comic Strip exhibitions! But don’t get carried away, two days of compelling conference sessions await you!

12 October – Day 2: Market

During Market Day, speakers from the European Investment Bank, the European Commission, but also from all over the world, will address the most important opportunities and challenges linked to energy storage investments and emerging markets, and will provide insight on successful business cases and major trends. In case you’re not sure which parallel session to attend – you can always view the Conference recordings after the event has ended on the online platform – just don’t forget to register! Get your Gala Dinner Pass at www.esgc.org to further network and enjoy a divine dinner with your favourite ESGC delegates in the beautiful Atrium of the BELvue Museum! Dress code: business casual.

13 October – Day 3: Technology

Discover the latest cutting-edge energy storage technologies, presented by leading experts of the sector, along with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, on Day 3 of the ESGC. In a keynote speech delivered by Piotr Szymański, Director of the Joint Research Centre, the JRC’s vision for energy storage will be developed, followed by topics such as optimising and transforming infrastructures, combined-energy storage technologies, long duration energy storage, raw materials, interoperability and digitalisation – to name a few!

Indicate your interest in joining the Energy Storage Site Visit in Ruien, the largest battery energy storage system in Belgium (25 MW / 100 MWh) when registering for the Conference, or sign up for the Parlamentarium visit, that will bring you on a journey through European history and integration, to learn more about how the European Parliament works, and explore how MEPs strive to meet future challenges.

So who would you like to meet at ESGC 2022?

We look forward to meeting you in Brussels on 11-13 October!

 

Confirmed speakers and moderators include

Day 1 – Policy, 11 October

  • Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission
  • Claudia Gamon, MEP, European Parliament
  • David Post, EASE President and Head of Energy Storage Solutions at Enel X
  • Catharina Sikow-Magny, Director at DG ENER, European Commission
  • Aleandre Perra, Group Senior Executive Vice-President, Innovation, Strategy and Planning at EDF
  • Julian Jansen, Growth and Market Development Director at Fluence
  • Alexandra Sdoukou, Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change
  • Stefan Moser, Head of Unit at DG ENER, European Commission
  • Roberto Zangrandi, Secretary-General of E.DSO
  • Rob Vandenboer, Evapco Europe

Day 2 – Market, 12 October

  • Manuel Baritaud, European Investment Bank
  • Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director-General at DG ENER, European Commission
  • Philipp Offenberg, Breakthrough Energy
  • Kane Thornton, Clean Energy Council
  • Gerard Reid, Alexa Capital
  • Reji Kumar Pillai, India Smart Grid Forum
  • Michael Villa, SmartEN
  • Evangelos Kotsakis, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
  • Jürgen Mayerhofer, Enspired Trading
  • Kristian Ruby, Eurelectric

Day 3 – Technology, 13 October

  • Piotr Szymański, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
  • Jurgen Sachau, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
  • Gabriele Buccini, Wärtsilä
  • Alexander Schoenfeldt, CellCube
  • Rupert Pearce, Highview Power
  • Julia Souder, LDES Council
  • Giuseppe Casubolo, SQM
  • Antonius Manders, European Parliament
  • Giulio La Pera, ENTSO-E
  • Fulvio Ardente, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
  • Camilla Nilsson, Kyoto Group
  • Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit at DG ENER, European Commission

…and many more!

View the full ESGC 2022 Preliminary Programme here.

For more information, visit www.esgc.org.

 

 

ESGC 2022 Sponsors

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

20.09.2022 /

RED III Revision Strengthens the Deployment of Energy Storage with New Targets

RED III Revision Strengthens the Deployment of Energy Storage with New Targets

The passing of the revision of Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) in the EU Parliament is a key milestone in the implementation of the Fit for 55 goals. The agreement of new ambitious goals for renewables and supporting measures to ensure its uptake, in the context of REPowerEU, will allow the meeting of a 45% renewables target by 2030. RED III revision strengthens the deployment of energy storage with new targets, but further work is required for an EU-wide energy storage strategy.

Several of the adopted provisions bring much needed attention towards the essential deployment of energy storage in the European Union

EASE therefore welcomes the introduction of a definition for a ‘co-located energy storage project’ which will enable for co-located facilities the access to support schemes and regulatory frameworks supporting renewables deployment.

Furthermore, the measures promoting the integration of energy storage technologies in heating and cooling systems will increase significantly system flexibility and will allow energy efficiency goals to be achieved. The incentivising of local energy storage and bi-directional charging in buildings and support for training of installers of energy storage are also vital.

Additionally, the inclusion of new indicative targets for energy storage at the Member State level is welcomed progress towards a full European energy storage strategy. However, without binding, EU-wide targets, Member States run the risk of setting targets too low to support European climate and energy targets for 2030 and 2050.

Only ambitious targets can ensure the Union achieves a 55% carbon emissions reduction by 2030

EASE reiterates its call for binding energy storage targets to be set on the European level. Such targets should accompany the decarbonation of our energy system through reaching 200 GW capacity by 2030 and 600 GW by 2050, set out in our paper ‘Energy Storage Targets 2030 and 2050’. Only ambitious targets can ensure the Union achieves a 55% carbon emissions reduction by 2030. We therefore remain confident that the Council and Parliament can still provide sufficient guarantees that these targets will be defined at European level or at least benefit from a common understanding of the renewable energy targets.

02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.09.2022 /