Looking back: Energy Storage Event 2025 – A day full of connections, insights, and acceleration
On December 3, 2025, the Orpheus Theater in Apeldoorn was entirely devoted to one of the most pressing issues of our time: energy storage. With a sold-out auditorium, representatives from across the entire energy chain, and a program packed with content and interaction, the Energy Storage Event 2025 once again proved to be the meeting place for everyone working on the energy system of tomorrow.
Building a flexible energy system together
The energy transition requires flexibility, smart infrastructure, and cooperation. That message resonated throughout all parts of the day. During the opening, chairwoman Sofie van den Enk set the tone with great energy. In “Op de bank bij Jeroen” (On the couch with Jeroen), Jeroen Neefs (Energy Storage NL) and Apeldoorn aldermen Danny Huizer and Nick Derks discussed the growing importance of storage and the role of municipalities in facilitating innovative projects.
Inspiring keynote sessions and lively debates
The first keynote of the day, by Remco de Boer, got the audience on the edge of their seats. With his story “The shore turns the transition ship around – and thank goodness it does.” he showed how the limitations of our energy system are actually forcing the much-needed acceleration.
The ensuing debate – “How can storage alleviate congestion?” – brought together experts from the Ministry of Climate, Alliander, and Linthorst. Their message was clear: the solutions are there, but they require cooperation, scale, and, above all, speed.
Working Stations: doing, learning, and looking ahead
One of the biggest success factors of the event was once again the interactive approach. During two extensive rounds of Working Stations, participants actively worked together.
From exploring a national storage strategy to delving into permits and business cases; from a hackathon on smart storage in Apeldoorn Zuid to the role of batteries in the future network – each session offered concrete tools, inspiration, and new connections.
In the second round, the focus was again on applicability: implementation of battery storage, market trends, regional assessment frameworks, and even crowdfunding as an accelerator for storage projects.
No more projects without storage
After the first round of Working Stations, Gijs Linthorst took the participants on a journey in his keynote speech about the inevitable role of storage in every future energy project. His message struck a chord: technical expertise only becomes valuable when it can be deployed at exactly the right moment – and that requires flexibility and storage.
International perspective
Later in the afternoon, Mycle Schneider brought an international perspective with his lecture. “Storage and nuclear energy: competitor or ally?”. His sharp analysis offered new perspectives on the division of roles between nuclear power generation and flexible storage technologies.
The day ended with a lively networking reception, where participants came together to exchange ideas, discuss collaborations, and arrange follow-up meetings. It was clear that while the urgency is great, the desire to accelerate progress together is just as strong.
A successful edition – and a clear message
The Energy Storage Event 2025 demonstrated that the sector is undergoing significant change. Electricity storage, heat storage, and molecular storage: all disciplines were central, with one shared ambition—to work together to build a stable, sustainable, and flexible energy supply for the Netherlands.
The large turnout, high level of engagement, and the quality of the program made this edition a great success. With renewed insights and new relationships in their pockets, everyone left Apeldoorn with the same feeling:
The future of the energy system is being shaped now—and energy storage is central to this.
