Repurposing EV battery packs and modules into BESS obviously has environmental benefits, but challenges around pricing, performance and safety remain, panellists at an industry event in London said last week.

Lithium-ion OEM Hithium’s failed Hong Kong listing amidst a lawsuit from larger competitor CATL may point to wider industry trends, with an increasingly competitive and larger battery industry meaning ever higher stakes.

BESS provider Sungrow and power firm Engie have connected the first phase of a 400MW/800MWh project, one of the largest in Europe, to the grid in Belgium.

The TSO of Italy has completed its first MACSE auctions for energy storage, procuring 10GWh of capacity at what the NHOA CEO called ‘exceptionally competitive prices’.

Power firm VPI has signed a 700MW pipeline BESS joint venture in Germany with developer Noveria Energy, while system integrator ADS-TEC has revealed a 1GW/2GWh project.

Local authorities approved 1,237MW/2,474MWh of grid-scale BESS in the UK, the latest data from our monthly roundup shows.

We catch up with executives from second life specialist BESS integrator Voltfang and investor Palladio Partners to discuss their recent €250 million (US$293 million) partnership to deploy projects in Germany.

The power markets of Europe continue their shift to 15-minute settlement periods today (30 September), a reform which could increase the revenue opportunities for energy storage and other flexibility resources.

Investment and IPP news from across Europe, with DTEK buying a BESS project in Poland, Ingrid inaugurating one in Sweden and Triodos investing in a German portfolio.

Although the government in Poland has taken steps to open up its energy storage market, regulatory challenges remain.