Energy Storage NL calls on political parties: focus on energy storage in a new coalition agreement

Now that the election results are known and coalition talks are about to begin, Energy Storage NL is making an urgent appeal to the parties forming the coalition: anchor energy storage as an indispensable pillar of the energy system and include concrete measures in the coalition agreement to accelerate energy storage.

"The election results offer a new opportunity to shape the energy transition not only faster, but also smarter," says Maarten van den Heuvel, chairman of Energy Storage NL. "Without energy storage, we can't capitalize on the growth of solar and wind power, grids will remain overloaded, and energy prices will remain unnecessarily high. Storage is the key to a stable, affordable, and independent energy system."

From sustainable generation to a stable energy system

The Netherlands now generates more than half of its electricity from solar and wind power. At the same time, the number of hours during which sustainable energy remains unused is increasing. On the other hand, we see that businesses and residential areas in some areas can no longer connect due to a lack of grid capacity. This demonstrates the necessity of flexibility, and specifically energy storage – as a bridge between energy demand and supply. Government direction and management are needed to simultaneously develop the necessary generation and demand, the grid, and flexibility and storage.

Energy Storage NL therefore emphasizes the need for a systemic approach to energy storage to accelerate the required storage capacity in the Netherlands. Energy Storage NL's recently published Market Research shows that the expected realized storage capacity is lagging behind the capacity forecast by grid operators for 2030. This could have serious consequences for grid congestion and security of supply, among other things.

System approach to energy storage in the coalition agreement

Energy Storage NL is asking the parties forming the coalition government to include a System Approach for Energy Storage in the coalition agreement, enabling the Netherlands to take control of energy storage by investing in:

1. A clear position for energy storage in the energy system , including a national storage ambition and a sector agreement 'Flex & Storage'.
2. A fair market and a solid business case through reform of the tariff system and rewarding flexibility.
3. Faster spatial integration with national frameworks and proactive location planning.
4. Support for decentralised storage , so that households, neighbourhoods and cooperatives can also contribute to a flexible energy system.
5. Accelerating innovation and scaling up , with investments in long-term storage technologies such as flow batteries, thermal and hydrogen storage.

"The current coalition formation is the perfect time to make choices that will make the Netherlands independent of foreign energy, give businesses room to grow again, and provide households with affordable energy bills. A systems approach to energy storage is necessary to make this a reality," says Maarten van den Heuvel.

Read the entire election campaign of Energy Storage NL here .