Prinsjesdag and the NPE Update: Important Steps for Energy Storage

September 15, 2026, marked Prinsjesdag and the start of the government’s new fiscal year. Finance Minister Heinen presented the Budget Memorandum and the National Budget to the House of Representatives. The Budget Memorandum provides a political summary of the national budget. Neither document contained any new measures or statements regarding electricity and heat storage. There was, however, concrete news regarding molecular storage: the government is allocating €245 million for the construction of new hydrogen caverns. This amount is in addition to the €450 million that the cabinet had already allocated to HyStock in July. While that earlier contribution was intended to hedge against market risks, the new amount is earmarked for the actual construction of the caverns.

In addition, on September 15, the Update to the National Energy System Plan (NPE), the government's plan for the development of the energy system through 2050. Among other things, the NPE describes energy demand, energy supply, international imports and exports, energy storage, and the interrelationships between various energy sources.

In the update, energy storage is clearly identified as a building block for a resilient and independent energy system. The cabinet states: “A transition is taking place from a system that relies heavily on imports of fossil fuels to a growing domestic system of production and storage. This strengthens the Netherlands” strategic autonomy.” (p. 24)

Electricity Storage: A Target Value for Batteries for the First Time

The NPE expects electricity demand to more than double by 2040 due to further electrification and new demand. Wind energy and solar PV must then together supply at least 80% of the electricity supply. This will also increase the need for flexibility, including storage. For the first time, the government has set a concrete target for battery storage: 28 GW and 110 GWh of 4-hour batteries by 2040. The NPE also acknowledges that investors face greater risks at this stage and that the government must play a more active role: “At this stage of the energy transition, the government’s role is to share risks and facilitate a balanced scaling up of demand, supply, energy infrastructure, and storage.” (p. 36) That role is essential because “According to energy system studies, the use of fossil-fuel-based dispatchable capacity can be reduced in a cost-effective manner by significantly scaling up solar, wind, nuclear power, and flexibility.” (p. 38).

Heat Storage: Potential Recognized, but Concrete Goals Are Lacking

Energy Storage NL welcomes the fact that heat storage has been explicitly included in the NPE. The government sees potential for making industrial heat demand and district heating more sustainable (p. 38). The NPE also emphasizes that grid congestion increases the importance of utilizing local heat sources and heat storage wherever feasible (p. 46). However, concrete targets for heat storage are still missing from the key points. As a result, a significant opportunity to actually unlock this potential remains untapped.

Hydrogen storage: 4 TWh in 2040

Storage is also indispensable in the vision for the future of the hydrogen supply chain. The government aims to have established a nationwide hydrogen transportation network and 4 TWh of hydrogen storage capacity by 2040. “Without adequate transportation infrastructure and storage capacity, hydrogen cannot fulfill its role in making the Dutch economy more sustainable.” (p. 41) Because these involve large investments and projects with long lead times, short-term decisions are needed to ensure that this capacity is realized in a timely manner.

From Vision to Implementation

The NPE emphasizes that cooperation is necessary to achieve these goals. According to the cabinet, the national government, local governments, and grid operators play a crucial role in this regard. Energy Storage NL is happy to contribute to these efforts wherever possible, including at the regional level.

Energy Storage NL views these plans as a positive step toward a sustainable and robust energy system. In particular, the new target of 28 GW of battery storage by 2040 and the target of 4 TWh of hydrogen storage demonstrate that the government is increasingly recognizing and acknowledging the systemic value of storage. The Comprehensive Energy Storage Policy Agenda will be published shortly; we expect it to further elaborate on these points in concrete policy, ensuring that the necessary market conditions, investments, and projects are actually realized.