Huge wind power deployments and the limitations of the existing fleet of pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) are driving the battery storage market in Finland, a local system integrator said.

Long-duration energy storage was firmly on the agenda and among the talking points of attendees at Energy Storage Summit EU in London.

The global need for grid-scale energy storage will rise rapidly in the coming years as the transition away from fossil fuels accelerates.

TransAlta has acquired a 50% stake in an early-stage development pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) project in Alberta.

Finland telecommunications firm Elisa has received €3.9 million from the government to form a VPP using batteries which could be the largest of its kind in Europe.

Hitachi Energy will supply equipment to improve the operational efficiency of a 45-year old pumped hydro plant in Austria for owner VERBUND.

Proposed changes to rules and regulations will strengthen the Philippines’ position as leading energy storage market in the ASEAN region.

Slovenia state-owned utility Dravske elektrarne Maribor (DEM) is planning two battery storage units totalling 60MW as well as a pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) plant.

“Overall we are very happy with the direction of the budget,” says Dr Rahul Walawalkar, president of the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA).