11 December 2025:
Yesterday, the European Commission published the European Grids Package, setting out key reforms to tackle long-standing bottlenecks in grid connections, permitting, and strategic infrastructure planning.
Overall, the package aims to increase interconnectivity across Member States and facilitate faster deployment of energy infrastructure projects, including storage. The Commission says it will strengthen the system’s ability to handle energy shocks, stabilise prices, and ensure security of supply.
The Commission hopes the proposals will support the development of renewables and clean energy in the EU energy system and help move closer to completing our internal energy market. This in turn would make energy more affordable and more secure.
Stated by Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing:
“The bottom line is this: if we want a Europe that is clean, competitive and independent, we need our energy infrastructure to be stronger, more secure and more connected.”
Flow Batteries Europe (FBE) praises the package which addresses key issues facing the sector, such as calling for faster permitting, stronger interconnection, and a clear EU-wide plan for a net-zero power system. This package moves us firmly in the right direction by addressing some key barriers to storage deployment.
In particular, FBE endorses the Commission’s strong focus on non-wire solutions to tackle grid infrastructure needs. Flexibility sources such as storage can indeed help grid operators avoid stranded assets and reduce costs when it comes to upgrading the grid. However, if the EU aims to stabilise the grid at all levels and minimise curtailment, it requires effective flexibility solutions across both transmission and distribution networks, where more than two thirds of new renewable generation is connected.
Therefore, the Commission should ensure that the requirements for projects of common and mutual interest reflect the needs of different network levels and allow storage projects that help reduce renewable energy curtailment to be eligible. Flow batteries, as long-duration energy storage, are uniquely suited to deliver these system benefits and should therefore be fully recognised within future grid planning and connection rules.
In terms of infrastructure needs, FBE also praises the inclusion of non-wire solutions, non-fossil flexibility and other alternatives to system expansion in future infrastructure needs reports. FBE sees this as a great opportunity to finally establish national and EU-level targets for long-duration energy storage (LDES), using these reports as technical foundation.
Clear LDES targets would not only support the growth of flexibility systems that can effectively stabilise the grid and integrate renewables in the system, but it could also support better planning and visibility for storage project developers and operators. For this same reason, FBE also praises the Commission’s inclusion of guidelines for Contracts for Difference (CdFs) in the Grids Package, as it provides LDES operators with long-term revenue visibility.
Finally, FBE also strongly supports the requirement for Member States to establish a single national digital permitting portal and the acceleration of permitting procedures to no longer than 6 months for stand-alone storage, which may take up to 7 years at the current moment. These measures are fundamental to streamline processes, reduce delays, and provide storage developers with greater clarity.
These reforms are essential if Europe is to meet its ambition of becoming a net-zero and globally competitive economy.
To learn more about the Grids Package, see the link here.
