Cabinet wants to invest hundreds of millions in energy storage!
In the Spring Memorandum announced today, the Cabinet has earmarked hundreds of millions of euros to stimulate energy storage. These investments should further strengthen the Dutch climate ambitions. For example, through investments in energy storage, among other things, the aim is to achieve a climate-neutral electricity sector in 2035.
Battery obligation and stimulating storage innovations
An important measure from the spring policy paper is the implementation of a battery obligation for new solar parks. By doing so, the government aims to ensure that more renewable energy can be fed into the electricity grid. For this measure, a reservation of € 416.6 million is included in the 2025 multi-year program.
In addition, the cabinet wants to further encourage innovations in energy storage. For example, new innovations in batteries, such as flow batteries, will be driven through demonstration projects. A total of 180 million has been set aside for this purpose. Another €450 million will be invested in feasibility studies and scaling up for heat and cold storage technology that contribute to the flexibility of the energy system and the sustainability of Dutch industry. Heat storage in the built environment is stimulated by €100 million through the Early Phase Scaling Up scheme.
As the required share of hydrogen continues to grow rapidly, the cabinet says more storage capacity is also needed. Specifically, €125 million is intended to develop new storage caverns. In addition, €15 million will also be made available to promote knowledge development and knowledge sharing for dealing with the storage and transport of ammonia as an energy carrier within the Netherlands.
Energy Storage NL: pleased with cabinet's encouragement of energy storage
Energy Storage NL (ESNL), the umbrella organization for the Dutch energy storage sector, reacts happily to the earmarked funds for energy storage. ESNL sees this as a great result for the talks that were held last period between the energy storage sector, Minister Jetten and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate.
For example, ESNL has previously advocated making energy storage mandatory for new solar and wind projects. This measure is now being implemented concretely for new solar projects. In addition, ESNL recently advocated in the National Energy Storage Action Plan asked for further investment in innovation around batteries, thermal and molecule storage, budget has now been set aside for that too in the Spring Memorandum.
Not only does this ensure sufficient flexibility in our future energy system, it also capitalizes on opportunities to develop new energy storage technology in the Netherlands. To this end, it is crucial that we work to further develop and scale up these technologies. The funds earmarked in the spring budget presented today certainly contribute to this, ESNL said.
