31.03.2023 /

The Electricity Market Design Revision's Impact on Security of Supply, Flexibility, and Energy Storage

The Electricity Market Design Revision’s Impact on Security of Supply, Flexibility, and Energy Storage

The European Commission presented its proposed changes to the Electricity Market Design on 14 March 2023. Although the scope of the proposal is limited, it has the potential to significantly affect the energy storage industry. The proposal aims to maintain the current price signals and overall framework of day-ahead and intraday markets while introducing some adjustments, striking a good balance between public involvement and market-based mechanisms. The main goals of the proposal are to promote investments in renewable energy and flexibility, minimize energy price volatility, and safeguard consumers against price spikes. The main provisions that will potentially affect the energy storage sector are thoroughly analysed in this document, trying to also identify potential areas of improvement.

This analysis also include the European Commission Recommendation on Energy Storage, which builds upon the European Commission Staff Working Document on Energy Storage, which recognises that “energy storage can play a crucial role in the current and future energy system”. The Recommendation complements the Electricity Market Design revision.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

17.03.2023 /

The Electricity Market Design Revision and the European Commission’s Work on Energy Storage

The Electricity Market Design Revision and the European Commission’s Work on Energy Storage

On 14 March 2023, the European Commission published a proposal and staff working document related to the Electricity Market Design revision, as well as four documents related to energy storage: The Staff Working Document on Energy Storage, The European Commission Recommendation on Energy Storage, The ENTEC Study on energy storage and The Joint Research Center study on Europe’s flexibility needs.  

EASE policy team has prepared a new in-depth analysis for the EASE members on how energy-related initiatives presented by the European Commission on the 14th of March 2023 will impact the flexibility and energy storage sector.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

14.11.2022 /

Laying Down a Framework to Accelerate the Deployment of Renewable Energy

Laying Down a Framework to Accelerate the Deployment of Renewable Energy

EASE has prepared a short briefing on the Commission’s emergency proposal for a Council Regulation addressing the acceleration of permitting for renewable energy installations in the EU. This emergency proposal was released on 9 November 2022 and seeks to fill the gap of immediacy accelerating permitting while Renewable Energy Directive III and other REPowerEU policies continue to be negotiated next year.

The proposal specifically includes energy storage co-located with solar energy installations in permitting acceleration and places energy storage in the overriding public interest which serves public health and safety.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

31.10.2022 /

Policy Options to Mitigate the Impact of Natural Gas Prices on Electricity Bill

Policy Options to Mitigate the Impact of Natural Gas Prices on Electricity Bill

EASE has prepared a short briefing on the non-paper addressing policy options to mitigate the impact of natural gas prices on electricity bill. This Commission non-paper is published in response to the European Council on 20 October 2022 calling on the Commission to submit concrete decisions on steps to address the EU energy market, particularly options for an EU gas price cap mechanism.

The non-paper lays out possible options for the Commission in a cost-benefit analysis of a cap in recognition of not modifying the merit order of electricity generation, to prevent increase in gas consumption, to address financial and distributional effects and to address the flow of gas beyond EU borders.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

19.05.2022 /

REPowerEU Plan Briefing: What’s in for storage?

REPowerEU Plan Briefing: What’s in for storage?

On 18 May 2022, the European Commission presented the REPowerEU plan. The plan aims to strengthen independence from Russian fossil fuel imports and accelerate the clean energy transition. Three main actions are foreseen: saving energy, accelerating the clean energy transition, and diversifying energy sources. Smart investments and reforms are identified as the main enabler. EASE Secretariat has prepared a briefing, looking into the strengths and weaknesses of the REPowerEU plan.

Even though the REPowerEU plan recognises the role of energy storage in accelerating the energy transition, it does not announce an energy storage strategy. Such a strategy would have been a strong investment signal: this is a missed opportunity for the EU. REPowerEU proposes a set of tools that support the deployment of energy storage – in the context of the EU Solar Energy Strategy, permitting, and investments.

Read the full briefing here!

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

02.03.2022 /

New Climate, Energy and Environmental Guidelines for State Aid

New Climate, Energy and Environmental Guidelines for State Aid

EASE has prepared a briefing on the Climate, Energy and Environmental Guidelines (CEEAG) for State aid. On the 27th January 2022, the new guidelines officially entered in force and will set out the criteria under which the European Commission will assess whether public aid may be authorised.

The new CEEAG represent a bold step forward: they move away from the approach of the previous Guideline by focusing on desired objectives, and all technologies that can deliver these objectives can be supported (but technology-specific auctions are still allowed).

The briefing provides a closer look at sections under which energy storage can be granted aid:

  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including support for renewable; energy and energy efficiency
  • Energy performance of buildings;
  • Clean mobility;
  • Security of supply;
  • Energy infrastructure;
  • District heating and cooling infrastructure.

The aim is to future-proof the CEEAG and make them apt for the 2030 decarbonisation targets, with the overarching goal of harmonising State aid rules with energy policy and legislation. EASE is closely following the developments in the drafting of the new Regulation in order to monitor what is next for energy storage systems.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

01.02.2022 /

Briefing on the Energy Efficiency Directive and Energy Performance in Buildings Directive: The Changes Foreseen for Energy Storage

Briefing on the Energy Efficiency Directive and Energy Performance in Buildings Directive: The Changes Foreseen for Energy Storage

The Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive have been reopened as part of the Fit for 55 Package. The target of a 55% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2030 calls for greater ambition, especially in energy usage, where these files aim to make the greatest changes.

Compared to previous Directives, these proposals set a number of new provisions that will greatly affect the energy storage industry when implemented. Therefore, the briefing prepared by EASE focuses on the following topics, which foresee the most changes for energy storage:

  • Energy Efficiency Targets (at EU-level and indicatively at Member State)
  • Public buildings, zero-energy buildings, and nearly zero-energy buildings
  • EV charging infrastructure
  • Heating and cooling systems

The recasts of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive will both shape how energy is used efficiently and optimally in Europe to meet decarbonisation needs. While storage is referred to in these proposals, much more is required from policymakers to unlock the potential energy storage has to support the decarbonisation buildings and the energy system.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

03.02.2022 /

Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package Briefing

Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package Briefing

The EASE Secretariat has prepared a briefing on the Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package Proposal aiming to provide an introductory analysis that focuses on issues related to energy storage and allowing members and the Secretariat of EASE to have a deeper insight into upcoming legislation towards the European hydrogen and gas market.

The Proposal is released as a revision of the Third Energy Package for gas in December of 2021 by the European Commission, supporting the EU’s climate target of reducing greenhouse gas emission. This briefing is divided in the following chapters:

  • Chapter 1 provides an overview of the Gas Package Revision;
  • Chapter 2 proposes a guide to the Package, highlighting the key provisions per topic;
  • Chapter 3 investigates specific topics and provisions;
  • The Annexe presents upcoming Gas Package-related secondary legislation, a brief F.A.Q., and other key policy and legislative actions.

The notable point is that first time in the legislation related to the internal gas market, the Proposal discusses hydrogen within the provisions for its supply chain.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

24.09.2021 /

CBAM and ETS: Impact on Energy Storage

CBAM and ETS: Impact on Energy Storage

With the Fit for 55 Package, the European Commission has published an ambitious set of measures: among these, the Emission Trading System (ETS) revision and the new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). EASE has prepared an analysis on what does the CBAM mean for the energy storage sector, as well as, revision of the EU ETS and its goals set for 2030.

While the former isn’t disruptive of the previous situation, despite including new sectors as road transport, buildings, and maritime transport, as well as strengthening the aviation carbon market, the latter represents a novelty in global trade.

The new CBAM will include imports of electricity, iron, aluminium, steel, certain fertilisers, and cement: after an transitional phase between 2023 and 2025, it should be fully implemented for all imports from all countries not covered by the EU ETS; moreover, the general layout of the compliance procedure will follow that of the ETS.

The analysis provided in these reports highlights the most relevant sections of these legislative instruments, alongside a provisional assessment of the impact they will have on the storage sector.

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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.

22.05.2020 /

COVID-19 Survey Analysis of Results

COVID-19 Survey Analysis of Results
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02.04.2020 / MEMBERS

Welcome on board Aarhus University!

The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) is glad to extend a warm welcome to its newest member Aarhus University – who joined EASE in February 2020.