EASE published its 2020 Activity Report. We worked hard to drive forward the EU policy agenda to support energy storage deployment and were happy to see that, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, EU policymakers stayed true to their climate ambitions and made 2020 a significant year for EASE and energy storage.
March 2021 / Policy Papers - Responses to Public Consultations
Reply to the Public Consultation on the Batteries Regulation Proposal
EASE has provided a response to the European Commission's Public Consultation on the new Batteries Regulation proposed on 10 December 2020. This Regulation aims to ensure that batteries placed in the EU market are sustainable and safe throughout their entire life cycle.
EASE prepared a reply to this consultation to further improve the Batteries Regulation in a way that is favourable to the energy storage sector. EU law aims to minimise batteries' harmful effects on the environment. The rules cover their full life cycle, from design & production to reuse & recycling. In line with the Green Deal and other sustainability-related policies, this initiative would update EU rules to ensure:
all batteries are produced sustainably (i.e. with low resource consumption and little waste generated) and can be easily recycled
any batteries used in the growing market for electric vehicles are sustainable.
EASE welcomes the proposal for the Batteries Regulation: although several criticalities are present, it is a step forward to tackle several of the barriers that currently hinder the battery market. EASE believes creating a level-playing field is key. Some of the Proposal provisions go in this sense - e.g., the recognition that different types of batteries are needed. In other articles, vice versa, the focus seemed to lie on specific battery solutions, e.g. the ones currently leading the market, therefore not adopting a technology-neutral approach, with the risk of hampering innovation and competition.
EASE published its 2020 Activity Report. We worked hard to drive forward the EU policy agenda to support energy storage deployment and were happy to see that, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, EU policymakers stayed true to their climate ambitions and made 2020 a significant year for EASE and energy storage.
The European Commission announced in its 2021 Working Programme that the Third Gas Package will be revised to regulate competitive decarbonised gas markets: EASE believes that energy storage solutions as Hydrogen and Power-to-Gas will play a key role in the transition of the gas system, and sees the proposed revision as a great opportunity to enhance sector integration as well as the deployment of renewable carbon gases.
EASE has provided a response to ENTSO-E Public Consultation on the All Continental Europe TSO’s proposal to determine a minimum activation time period required for limited energy reservoirs to remain available during alert state in accordance with Article 156(11) of the SO GL. Although several flaws in the methodology have been detected, EASE has suggested reasessment of the methodology to enhance the proposal.
EASE welcomes the revision of the Climate, Energy and Environmental Aid Guidelines to align the State aid framework with the EU’s ambitious decarbonisation targets and the European Green Deal. With the revision of the EEAG, the EU seeks to address challenge of ensuring a clear framework that supports decarbonisation in a cost-effective manner while maintaining competition and fair trade.
EASE welcomes EU policymakers’ efforts to revise the Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) as part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, expected July 2021. Accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources (RES) is essential to achieve the EU’s ambitious goals of a 55% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
