Flow Batteries Europe welcomes the publication on the REPowerEU Plan, the European Commission’s outline for achieving energy independence.

We were relieved to see that, contrary to a version leaked a week before the publication, the final text rightly acknowledges the fundamental role energy storage, including long-duration storage technologies, plays in supporting the growth of renewables and the flexibility of the energy system.

However, there is room for improvement. Most obviously, the plan is lacking a concrete energy storage strategy and clear energy storage targets. If energy storage and batteries are to be deployed at a sufficient scale, a more favourable legal framework along with significantly more funding opportunities will be necessary. This cannot come without a clear indication on behalf of policymakers that energy storage is one of the key priorities for the EU. An EU-wide energy storage strategy, coupled with specific and ambitious targets, would send a strong signal to market actors that more investment into energy storage and batteries is needed to ensure security of supply and carbon neutrality by 2050.

In a recent statement, signed with other 11 organisations, Flow Batteries Europe put forward a series of recommendations for the EU to build an integrated, resilient and sustainable energy system and we remain open to provide any information you need on the flow battery technology and its contribution to security of supply.