EU energy ministers signed the first-ever tripartite agreement to boost the bloc’s energy storage capacity on 26 June. The EU needs 200 gigawatt (GW) of storage capacity by 2030, compared with the current 55. 22 member states promised to add around 30-35 GW of new capacity by 2028.
The agreement tackles a problem that has become urgent with Europe’s green transition: how to store growing energy surpluses from intermittent renewable sources, such as wind and solar.
The agreement scales up Europe’s capacity to store more solar and wind power and use it during a sudden increase in energy demand. It aims towards at least 20% (45 GW) more capacity than the annual installed capacity in 2025 (12 GW) between 2026 and 2028. Storage supplies should cover around 10% of peak demand, up from around 5% in 2025. Greater energy security balances the grid and maintains grid stability while lowering energy prices.