Energy Storage NL makes more work of local storage through renewed working groups

On Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 February we were pleased to welcome many of our members to our office in Zoetermeer for the first three working groups - (1) Built Environment, (2) Industry and Business and (3) Large Scale - in the new ESNL structure. With a great turnout and lots of energy, we look back on two inspiring days full of content, exchange and connection.

Working Groups Built Environment, Industry & Business and Large Scale

During the Built Environment working group, the focus was on low-voltage residential storage. We got an update from NL Flex on the cooperation between energy suppliers and grid operators to better unlock flexibility locally, including through ongoing pilots around home batteries. We also discussed the end of the net-metering scheme on January 1, 2027 and what this means for the energy storage sector and expected market development. With a contribution from TKI Urban Energy, we discussed grid-aware new construction: how storage, charging infrastructure and heat pumps can be integrated into the design of new residential areas. We also discussed the possible development of a standard for safe installation of home batteries, knowledge sharing around grid-aware control and the relationship with BENG and NTA 8800. With that, this working group was emphatic about the future role of energy storage in an increasingly smart and locally organized energy system.

The Industry & Business working group focused, among other things, on the positioning of storage within the industrial energy transition. From FME it was explained how storage is part of the broader lobby around electrification and flexibility. In addition, time-dependent tariffs for large users were discussed with regional grid operators and the SCIOS inspection guideline for batteries was discussed, with attention to the application of new rules by insurers around energy storage.

One of the topics discussed in the Large-Scale Working Group was the renewed application process for batteries at TenneT. Specific attention was paid to the renewed internal process by which applications are handled within TenneT and how this works out in practice for initiators. The capacity control contracts (CSC) were also discussed together with TenneT, focusing on the effect of incentives, risk allocation and the impact on the financeability of projects. Finally, an explanation was given about the European Battery Regulation and the implications for the sector around battery safety rules.

Broad representation and valuable exchange

The working groups brought together a broad representation of our constituency: developers of molecule, heat and electricity storage, grid operators, insurers and banks. This diversity made for substantively strong discussions, sharing of practical experiences and new connections.

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