Strategic Approach Batteries 2025: from policy frameworks to concrete opportunities for the storage sector

Batteries have quickly become a key technology for both the energy system and the economic resilience of the Netherlands. Because of the importance of batteries as a key technology for the energy and mobility transition, the Dutch batteries strategy was launched in 2020. A parliamentary letter was sent in December as an evaluation on the steps made with the strategic approach. The evaluation addresses the following five pillars: security of supply, circularity, safety, economic opportunities and system integration. Of particular interest to ESNL is the extent to which these actions lead to predictable policy, better preconditions for investment and acceleration of projects.

House letter on progress on strategic approach batteries December 2025

Commodities: strategic autonomy as a prerequisite for growth

The availability of critical raw materials is a structural precondition for scaling up battery storage. Within the National Raw Materials Strategy and the European Critical Raw Materials Act, the Netherlands is committed to reducing strategic dependencies, including through value chain analyses, pilots for strategic stocks and international partnerships. With the establishment of the Dutch Materials Observatory in early 2025, an important step has been taken in structurally monitoring vulnerabilities in raw material chains

For entrepreneurs in the battery sector, this is especially relevant because raw material security and price volatility directly affect business cases. Although these actions are primarily upstream in the chain, they help determine whether scaling up in the Netherlands remains economically feasible. The commitment to more processing capacity in Europe, such as refining and recycling, is crucial here: without this capacity, Europe will remain dependent on external markets, with all the geopolitical risks that this entails.

At the same time, this remains an indirect issue for most storage developers. The main added value at the moment is in the long-term perspective: a more stable resource policy increases investment security for large-scale storage projects and system integration.

Circularity: from regulations to viable chains

The implementation of the European Batteries Regulation is one of the most impactful dossiers for companies in the sector. This regulation sets far-reaching requirements for, among other things, origin, recyclability, reuse and information provision. In 2025 and 2026, the focus is on national implementation and setting up producer responsibility for industrial batteries, which include stationary storage systems

Of particular importance to entrepreneurs is how these obligations will be organized practically. At present it is not yet clear whether producers and importers of industrial batteries will be able to organize their responsibilities collectively. This uncertainty directly affects costs, administrative burden and risk allocation within the chain. ESNL members point out that clear implementation frameworks and timely communication are crucial if investments are not to be delayed.

In addition, the government is committed to reducing battery fires at waste processors. Although this seems primarily a waste and safety issue, it has direct implications for design choices, labeling and end-of-life logistics of storage systems. For the industry, it is important here to work toward workable solutions that increase safety without introducing disproportionate costs.

Safety: standardization as necessary basis for scaling up

Safety remains a precondition for social acceptance and licensing of battery storage. In 2025 work continued on anchoring PGS 37-1 and 37-2 in the Environment Act, as well as international harmonization of safety standards The government has indicated in progress communication that by the end of 2026 the draft regulations should be submitted for consultation around this anchoring, with the aim that the actual legal inclusion and thus obligation will take effect in 2027 via the Bal (Decree on activities in the living environment).

For developers and operators, this means that safety frameworks will be applied with increasing consistency, which may eventually contribute to faster permitting processes.

At the same time, the industry is in a transitional phase. Local authorities and safety regions do not yet always apply standards uniformly, leading to differences in requirements between municipalities and provinces. This increases uncertainty for project developers, especially for large-scale or innovative storage concepts.

New and explicitly included is the focus on cybersecurity of battery power systems. With increasing digitization and remote control, storage systems are becoming part of the broader cybersecurity domain, including through the Cyber Resilience Act and NIS2 directive. For operators, this means that cybersecurity is no longer an optional IT topic, but an integral part of system design, procurement and operation.

Economic perspectives: from ‘call to action’ to ‘call to accelerate’

A central message from the progress letter is that the Dutch battery sector has passed the phase of exploration. The government is emphatically shifting from a call to action to a call to acceleration. The focus is on strengthening the Dutch battery ecosystem through public-private partnerships.

With an NGF subsidy of approximately €7.6 million in 2025, BCC-NL plays a key role in knowledge sharing, human capital and internationalization. For entrepreneurs, this translates into better alignment with European programs, increased visibility in international value chains and support for upscaling.

In addition, substantial efforts are being made on innovation through the National Technology Strategy and the National Growth Fund. Programs such as Material Independence & Circular Batteries and NXTGEN Hightech support concrete production lines for solid-state batteries, iron-air batteries and battery modules, among others

For energy storage companies, this means that the Netherlands is explicitly positioning itself on future technologies and system applications, rather than bulk production of standard cells. ESNL emphasizes that substantial and consistent government incentives are essential for scaling up production of emerging battery technologies. Without long-term and predictable support in the so-called valley of death between innovation and commercial rollout, European manufacturing capacity does not develop in the Netherlands and more broadly in Europe.

International positioning: market opportunities beyond national borders

Because the battery value chain is international by definition, the government is committed to a focused international strategy. In 2025, BCC-NL joined the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA), structurally connecting the Netherlands to European decision-making on batteries

For entrepreneurs, this is relevant because European standards, subsidy schemes and market development are increasingly determined in Brussels. In addition, bilateral cooperation is being strengthened, including with France and Germany, and there is specific attention to cooperation with Asian countries such as South Korea. These efforts should give Dutch companies access to markets, production chains and knowledge necessary to remain internationally competitive.

Batteries in the energy system: flexibility as a core value

Within the energy system, battery storage is explicitly seen as one of the key solutions for flexibility, security of supply and mitigating grid congestion. The government emphasizes that batteries can be connected congestion-neutral. ESNL wants to emphasize that energy storage systems can actually have a congestion mitigating effect and that there is broad willingness from the market to reach agreements that ensure battery systems do not exacerbate grid congestion problems.

For storage developers, this is a crucial point. On the one hand, it highlights the role of batteries as a system service provider; on the other, it shows that connection and market participation are increasingly dependent on smart incorporation, contracting and coordination with grid operators. At the same time, the ACM is examining whether tariff structures can be adjusted to financially reward flexible grid use, which could enable new revenue models.

Looking ahead: what does this mean for entrepreneurs?

The Strategic Approach to Batteries 2025 shows that the government is committed to a solid policy foundation for the battery sector, but also that many actions are still in an elaboration phase. For entrepreneurs, the challenge lies in anticipating new standards, utilizing innovation and financing instruments and positioning within European and international chains.

The upcoming review of the National Battery Systems Action Agenda in 2026 will be an important moment in this regard. It should then become clear to what extent policy actually leads to acceleration at project level. It remains essential for ESNL and its members to remain involved in these processes, so that regulations and policy instruments match the practice of a rapidly growing and increasingly professional energy storage sector.