According to foreign media reports, the Energy Storage Coalition (Energy Storage Coalition) was officially established in Brussels, Belgium, on May 4, 2023, the establishment of the organization aims to accelerate the decarbonization of the European energy system by deploying energy storage solutions to provide support for sustainable clean energy.

The event was attended by more than 150 policymakers, industry and association representatives and provided an opportunity to discuss how the design of the EU electricity market can address the obstacles facing the deployment and use of energy storage technologies in Europe today.

The session was hosted by Kadri Simson, the European Commissioner for Energy, who presented the work of the European Commission in promoting the deployment of renewable energy and storage, particularly in the context of the upcoming design revision of the EU electricity market. Simson stressed that energy storage systems are a key element in building a future-proof, resilient and decarbonized energy system, and that the Energy Storage Alliance will be an important interlocutor in the future.

The partners of the Energy Storage Alliance analyzed and explored how energy storage systems can provide flexibility to ensure that the EU meets its decarbonization goals, strengthens energy security, and achieves lower energy prices.

Philipp Offenberg, senior manager for Europe at Breakthrough Energy, reiterated the urgent need for Europe to put in place the right policy and investment framework to drive the deployment of long-term energy storage technologies and to scale them up.

Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, said: "In the last winter, renewable energy generation in the EU exceeded that of fossil fuels. Obviously, solar power facilities and other renewable energy generation facilities can power Europe in all seasons. We need to build strong energy infrastructure so that year-round power from renewable energy generation facilities becomes the norm. This means taking storage deployment seriously and preparing for stable grid operations."

Giles Dickson, CEO of wind power developer WindEurope, stressed that "more energy storage systems need to be deployed to help improve the ability of wind farms to connect to the grid." We also need to ensure that the electricity generated by wind farms can be used to its full potential in a better way. To secure Europe's energy supply, we need to provide power system flexibility while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels to zero."

Patrick Clerens, secretary general of the European Energy Storage Association, stressed that energy storage systems can help ease grid congestion and reduce grid expansion costs. Accelerating the electrification process is critical, and this is where energy storage systems can help reduce costs and facilitate further deployment of renewable energy.

The conference had a productive discussion on how upcoming legislation will accelerate renewable energy development and storage deployment, and demonstrated the need to reform the design of the European electricity market to ensure energy security, which must be achieved through non-fossil energy solutions.

Emma Wiesne, a member of the European Parliament, said: "Energy storage systems are often forgotten treasures. In the current reform of the European electricity market, we have a great opportunity to unlock the potential of storage systems in the European energy system."

Niels Fuglsang, Member of the European Parliament, added: "The answer to the energy crisis is to improve energy efficiency and develop more renewable energy generation facilities. At the heart of this energy system is the energy storage system, which is a key enabler of resilient and highly electrified systems. Now more than ever, it is clear that Europe needs to prioritize the deployment of energy storage systems as part of its goal to become more resilient. More energy storage simply means more energy independence and more clean energy. So I welcome the Energy Storage Alliance's initiative."

Catharina Sikow Magny, Director of Green Transition and Energy Systems Integration at the European Commission's Directorate General for Energy, said at the end of the meeting that the European Commission has implemented several legislative reforms that could greatly improve the regulatory framework for deploying energy storage systems, and it is vital to ensure that EU member states implement these regulations quickly. In this way, the energy storage system can play a key role in the energy system.

The conference showcased the growing importance of energy storage systems in Europe's energy transition and the important role it can play in achieving a sustainable low-carbon future. All speakers agreed that improving the resilience of the European energy system and ensuring affordable electricity for consumers were essential matters.