Southeast Europe is in the process of transforming its electricity sector by phasing out coal-fired power plants and accelerating investment in renewable energy sources (RES). Fostering the uptake of technological innovations and the deployment of power storage systems is crucial to achieving the energy transition. Due to the intermittency of renewable energy, technological solutions are necessary to guarantee the security of electricity supply and the well-functioning of transmission and distribution networks. Energy storage technologies ensure, from this point of view, a more seamless integration of renewable energy into the grid.
These are some of the main conclusions of an analysis developed jointly by E3 Analytics and the Center for the Study of Democracy, which was presented on 14 December during a webinar on Scaling up Storage in Southeast Europe: Accommodating the Regulatory Framework to the Technological Advancements in the Sector. In addition to CSD experts, the discussion featured Toby Couture, founder and director of E3 Analytics, Mariana Yaneva, Director of Policy and Communications at the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity, Vassilis Triantafyllos, Special Advisor to the Secretary General for Energy and Mineral Resources in the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy, and Mihai Balan, the Director of the Energy Systems Programme at the Energy Policy Group.
All speakers agreed that power storage systems will play a crucial role in the transition towards a more flexible, reliable and decarbonised electricity system. However, a concrete regulatory framework is needed to establish clear criteria and mandatory storage targets to facilitate greater investment in the sector, whereas administrative barriers to the implementation of battery projects is removed. The key to unlocking the sector is to create the market conditions that will more clearly delineate the pricing of different power storage services, including the provision of additional grid capacity, covering peak demand, ensuring the constants production of electricity by renewable energy-based plants and maximising power generation for own use.