EU plans 2025 energy storage package

The European Commission has announced a European Grid Package, to be launched in the final quarter of the year, which will focus on driving energy storage capacity to encourage investment in clean energy-based electrification.

Revealing the legislative plan as part of a review of member state National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), the commission stated it “will work to further streamline and simplify EU legislation and reduce [project] authorization times, including through targeted updates to environmental legislation, which will be crucial to removing barriers to renewable projects, infrastructure development, and energy storage.”

The European Union’s executive has published its NECP report, tracking the bloc’s progress toward its 55% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. Europe is currently just 1% shy of that target, with announced plans amounting to a 54% GHG emission reduction by that date.

Spain, with 47.9% clean power in its energy mix, is one of 12 EU member states to have achieved the target of 42.5%, with the average across the bloc 41%.

Between 2022 and 2024, member states installed around 205 GW of renewable energy generation capacity. European electricity users are estimated to have saved around €100 billion ($113 billion) over the 2021-2023 period thanks to the power produced by newly installed solar and wind capacity.

In the European Union’s internal energy market, member states have introduced measures in their NECPs to promote grid flexibility, stabilize energy markets, and facilitate the penetration of renewable energy. The Commission noted, however, that additional measures are needed to develop cross-border electricity interconnections and to further integrate energy markets.

“Investing in electricity grid infrastructure and optimizing a well-integrated European energy system is key to a clean and cost-effective energy transition, from [electricity] transmission to distribution,” stated the commission. While member states such as Luxembourg, Slovenia, Latvia, and Hungary already far exceed the bloc’s 15% interconnectivity target for 2030, countries such as Spain, Greece, Italy, and France fall far short. “Reinforced efforts are needed to ensure sufficient infrastructure investments at all voltage levels to meet both domestic and cross-border needs,” wrote the commission. The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators estimates another 32 GW of cross-border capacity needs to be met by 2030.

The commission will next year present a European Climate Adaptation Plan to support member states, particularly with their preparedness and planning for changing weather patterns. The plan will also ensure regular, science-based climate change risk assessments.

From pv magazine España.