Breakthrough Energy, the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE), Solar Power Europe, and WindEurope have called on the European Commission to recognise energy storage’s crucial role for the security of energy supply in Europe.
The four organisations welcome that the REPowerEU plan presented in March rightly recognises renewables, especially wind and solar, as key technologies to decrease Europe’s dependence on Russian oil, gas, and coal.
However, even if the renewable energy industry is ready to support EU’s ambitions, without rapidly scaling up market-ready energy storage technologies, the EU will be unable to achieve a net-zero power system, risking continued exposure to volatile fossil energy markets, the bodies said in an open letter.
The EU urgently needs a massive and rapid roll-out of energy storage solutions, it stated.
Some of the solutions we have today to balance renewable generation – mostly dispatchable fossil generation such as gas-fired power plants – run contrary to Europe’s climate, energy independence, and security of supply ambitions, according to the letter.
Energy storage needs to become a political priority alongside renewables in the short term
The bodies are calling for the European Commission to set energy storage targets for 2030 in its REPowerEU Action Plan in May.
The plans should also promote the uptake of energy storage technologies through funding instruments, such as Contracts for Difference under the Innovation Fund.
They also want to see mainstream energy storage in the European Commission’s implementation of the REPowerEU action plan and in the ongoing review of the Electricity Market Design.
Giles Dickson, WindEurope chief executive said: “Europe wants more wind energy ASAP to cut fossil fuel imports. Good, Europe can count on us.
“The 18 May REPowerEU plan must now also recognise the critical role of storage in delivering clean, home-grown and affordable energy for all Europeans.”
Breakthrough Energy vice president for Europe Ann Mettler added: “With the US and China strongly supporting energy storage uptake, the EU risks coming late to yet another technology trend.
“Europe has invested a lot in R&D, especially in long duration energy storage. We now need to reap the benefits of these efforts by deploying storage technologies at large scale.”