Jan-Willem Zwang points out growth in battery requests in online member meeting
On March 8, 2023 Energy Storage NL hosted an online member meeting on the increasing requests for battery projects from grid operators. More than 80 people attended. Jan Willem Zwang, owner of consultancy Stratergy and energy trendwatcher, gave ESNL members an exclusive first look at the results of his recent research on battery requests.
In September 2022, Zwang conducted an inventory with TenneT, Stedin, Liander and Enexis of the known pipeline of battery projects. This showed that about 20 GW of battery applications had been submitted at that time.
The latest figures show that a total of 34 GW of applications have been submitted to the aforementioned four grid operators as of February 2023, an increase of 77% from September's figures. This underscores the fact that energy storage is playing an increasingly prominent role in our energy system. Among the reasons for the explosive increase, Zwang cites increasing renewable generation and electrification of energy consumption.
There is a common question from ESNL's supporters as to what extent the rising number of battery applications reflects a serious development, or whether there is to some extent a run on capacity. The survey provides some insight into this; of the 91 applications for new capacity at Stedin, 11 were canceled. Furthermore, it seems plausible that some of the new applications were committed as a precautionary measure for business expansion purposes. Grid congestion may have accelerated these requests as companies want to be sure of their energy supply.
The role of batteries in this is seen as logical because energy storage can solve some of the congestion problems. In the discussion, there appears to be a strong need among members for more government direction. It should, in consultation with the industry and grid operators, identify more clearly where batteries are desirable and where they are not a priority.
Want to see Stratergy's full survey? Then click on this link: https://www.stratergy.nl/post/34-gw-aan-batterijprojecten-in-beeld-bij-netbeheerders-per-eind-februari-2023
