Interview with Suzanne Kröger (GroenLinks – PvdA) – Energy storage as an indispensable link in the energy transition

The Dutch parliamentary elections are just around the corner, and Energy Storage NL is curious to see how energy storage is being incorporated into the party manifestos of various political parties. For Energy Storage NL, the lead-up to the elections is focused on "energy storage in politics." For this campaign, we interviewed several members of parliament about their views on the importance of energy storage in the energy system. This time, we hear from Suzanne Kröger, Member of Parliament for GroenLinks – Labour Party (PvdA).

What do you think is the most important added value of energy storage in the energy system, both in the short and long term? And how do you see the role of storage within the energy system itself?

In an energy system powered by solar and wind energy, energy storage plays a vital role because these sources are not continuously available. Storage is essential to bridge periods of low solar and wind availability. In the short term, storage helps manage supply and demand more flexibly and is particularly relevant in addressing grid congestion. In the long term, storage remains crucial for bridging extended periods without renewable generation. Within the energy system, storage forms the link between production, consumption, and grid capacity.

What role do you see for energy storage in combating grid congestion, and do you think this potential is currently being sufficiently utilized?

Storage can certainly help alleviate grid congestion, but it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. In some cases, storage can even exacerbate grid congestion. The balance between storage and grid congestion requires careful management.

What's currently lacking is a structural approach that considers where electricity demand lies, where generation occurs, and where the two don't coincide – that's where storage is needed. This systems approach is still not being applied sufficiently. Policy is highly fragmented and siloed across various ministries and domains. This hinders the full potential of storage for grid congestion reduction.

What do you think is the main reason why the development and integration of storage in the Netherlands is still lagging behind?

I believe the storage problem isn't an isolated issue. The entire energy transition is faltering. And that's because there's a lack of direction. We don't really know where we want to go with our energy system, and what it actually takes. That direction is lacking, and you can see it on all fronts: generation, consumption, and storage.

Regarding storage, I see a significant lack of vision, especially regarding local storage. There's no clear picture of what a decentralized energy system should look like and what role storage plays within it. As a result, it remains ad hoc and disjointed. Onshore wind and rooftop solar are currently being hampered in their development, while these forms of local generation should be encouraged. But if you don't consider simultaneous use and storage, you're missing a crucial component.

For me, storage is one point in a vital triangle: generation, consumption, and storage must be organized in tandem. If you don't do this—for example, by failing to connect local generation to simultaneous consumption and storage—you're missing a crucial component. As a result, we remain stuck in isolated initiatives that don't sufficiently reinforce each other. The biggest obstacle isn't technical, but lies in the lack of systems thinking. As long as we don't approach the energy system in an integrated manner, the role of storage will remain underexposed, and its development will fail to get off the ground.

How do you assess the current storage strategy and what do you think should be improved?

To be honest, I'm quite disappointed with how storage is currently being viewed. The current strategy is mainly a summary of what's already happening, but it really lacks a vision. For example, the letter to Parliament about grid congestion doesn't offer a concrete vision. It doesn't say: "This is what our energy system will look like in 2040, with a role for storage in this way." And that's exactly what we need.

In my opinion, the solution lies in recognizing that we truly need to work towards a decentralized energy system. This means bringing together generation, consumption, and storage locally – in neighborhoods, on business parks. If that's the goal, then the role of storage naturally becomes part of it. From there, you can then start to standardize and incentivize: for example, by requiring storage to be standardized at new generation sites, or by subsidizing neighborhood and business batteries.

As long as we don't develop a comprehensive system vision, we'll remain dependent on expensive grid reinforcements. While smart storage deployment can actually save costs and make the energy system more efficient. So yes, there really needs to be more guidance, control, and direction.

What do you think it takes to go from 'thinking it's important' to a real priority?

I think we really need to move away from the idea that storage is merely "important" and see it much more as something indispensable. Storage is essential to accelerate the energy transition and solve the problem of grid congestion.

Taking this seriously means enshrining it in policy. This can be done, for example, by including concrete goals for a decentralized energy system in which storage is a natural component. This also includes requiring grid operators to seriously consider flexibility options like storage in their investment plans. We recently submitted a motion on this matter to really put this firmly on the agenda.

I also believe it's important that we consider scaling up. I'm concerned about the rapid rise of home batteries, while I'd prefer to see us focus on neighborhood batteries or storage on industrial estates. This is much more socially efficient and fairer, and it also prevents inequality between people who can and cannot afford a home battery.

To make this possible, standards and targeted subsidies can play a role. But the bottom line is that we must treat storage as an integral part of the energy system, not as a standalone solution that can be added on as an optional extra. Only then will it receive the priority it deserves.

What can we expect from the GroenLinks-PvdA coalition regarding storage in the run-up to the elections?

Storage is receiving explicit attention within the GroenLinks-PvdA coalition. In the run-up to the elections, we are committed to developing a decentralized energy system in which storage is a logical and indispensable component. A separate section of our draft party manifesto is dedicated to this. We will also continue to exert pressure on several fronts: from promoting community storage, such as neighborhood batteries, to promoting local energy hubs.