Energy Storage Alliance launched! Participants stressed that energy storage systems will be more flexible to help decarbonize Europe
According to foreign media reports, the Energy Storage Coalition (Energy Storage Coalition) was officially announced on May 4, 2023 in the Belgian capital of Brussels. The organization was established to accelerate the decarbonization of Europe's energy system by deploying energy storage solutions to support sustainable, clean energy.
The event was attended by more than 150 policymakers, industry and association representatives and provided an opportunity to discuss how the design of the EU electricity market can address the barriers facing the deployment and use of energy storage technologies in Europe today.
The session was moderated by EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, who presented the European Commission's work in promoting renewable energy and energy storage deployment, particularly in the context of the upcoming revision of the EU electricity market design.Simson emphasized that energy storage systems are a key element in building a future-proof, resilient and decarbonized energy system, and that the Energy Storage Alliance will be a future important interlocutor.
The Energy Storage Alliance partners provided analysis and discussion on how energy storage systems can provide flexibility to ensure that the EU meets its decarbonization goals, enhances energy security, and achieves lower energy prices.
Philipp Offenberg, Senior Manager Europe at Breakthrough Energy, reiterated the urgent need for the right policy and investment framework in Europe to drive the deployment and scale-up of long term energy storage technologies.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, noted, "In the last winter, the EU generated more electricity from renewable sources than from fossil fuels. It is clear that solar power facilities and other renewable energy generation facilities can power Europe in all seasons. We need to build a robust energy infrastructure that makes year-round power supply from renewable generation facilities the norm. This means getting serious about energy storage deployment and preparing for stable grid operations."
Giles Dickson, CEO of wind power developer WindEurope, emphasized that "more energy storage systems need to be deployed to help improve the ability of wind farms to connect to the grid. We also need to ensure that the electricity generated by wind farms is used to its full potential in a better way. To secure Europe's energy supply, we need to provide power system flexibility while reducing reliance on fossil fuels to zero."
Patrick Clerens, Secretary General of the European Energy Storage Association, stressed that energy storage systems can help ease grid congestion and reduce grid expansion costs. Accelerating electrification is critical, and this is where energy storage systems can help reduce costs and facilitate further deployment of renewable energy.
The conference provided a fruitful discussion on how upcoming legislation will accelerate renewable energy development and energy storage deployment, and demonstrated the need to reform the design of the European electricity market to ensure energy security, which must be achieved through non-fossil energy solutions.
MEP Emma Wiesne said, "Energy storage systems are often a forgotten treasure. In the current reform of the European electricity market, we have a great opportunity to unlock the potential of energy storage systems in the European energy system."
MEP Niels Fuglsang added: "The answer to the energy crisis is to improve energy efficiency and develop more renewable energy generation facilities. At the heart of such energy systems are energy storage systems, which are key enablers of resilient and highly electrified systems. Now more than ever, it is clear that Europe needs to prioritize the deployment of energy storage systems as part of its goal to become more resilient. More energy storage systems simply means more energy independence and more clean energy. I therefore welcome the Energy Storage Alliance's initiative."
Catharina Sikow Magny, Head of Green Transition and Energy Systems Integration at the European Commission's Directorate General for Energy, concluded the conference by saying that the European Commission has implemented several legislative reforms that could significantly improve the regulatory framework for deploying energy storage systems and that it is critical to ensure that EU member states implement these provisions quickly so that energy storage systems can play a key role in the energy system .
The conference showcased the growing importance of energy storage systems in Europe's energy transition and the important role it can play in achieving a sustainable low carbon future. All speakers agreed that increasing the resilience of the European energy system and ensuring affordable electricity for consumers are matters of critical importance.
