EASE welcomes the proposal for the new Batteries Regulation proposed by the European Commission on 10 December 2020. Although several criticalities are present, the new Regulation is a step forward to tackle several of the barriers that currently hinder the battery market.
March 2021 / Reports and Studies
Power-to-Gas: Policies and Actions in Europe
EASE has prepared an overview of the upcoming and existing key policy and actions of Spain, the Netherlands and Germany to support the uptake of hydrogen and Power-to-Gas solutions.
Hydrogen and Power-to-Gas are chemical energy storage technologies, one of five energy storage “families” identified by EASE. Electricity-produced hydrogen can be used for transport (fuel), for heating (fuel), as a raw material (chemical feedstock); to balance electricity demand and supply and to support the management of the electricity grid (through storage).
The European Union, and many of its Member States, consider clean hydrogen a key priority to achieve the European Green Deal and Europe’s clean energy transition. Yet, today, hydrogen is a modest fraction of the European energy mix.
EASE welcomes the two strategies presented by the European Commission in 2020, the Energy System Integration and Hydrogen. While it seems clear that coordination at the European Union level is necessary, different states are trying to introduce complementary policies and initiatives to favour its uptake. It seems one-size-fits-all solutions may not exist – States have different characteristics and priorities, so different approaches are necessary.
In this document, we will focus solely on hydrogen produced through Power-to-Gas, i.e. by electrolysis. Other technologies to produce hydrogen are not considered.
EASE welcomes the proposal for the new Batteries Regulation proposed by the European Commission on 10 December 2020. Although several criticalities are present, the new Regulation is a step forward to tackle several of the barriers that currently hinder the battery market.
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.
