Leading energy storage technology companies, developers, operators and outstanding individuals are featured on the shortlists for this year’s Energy Storage Awards (ESAs).

A flurry of BESS news from companies operating across Germany and the Netherlands, with utility Lichtblick launching construction on a 470MWh project in Saxony, Giga Storage inaugurating a project in Amsterdam, and cross-border BESS platform Return raising €300 million.

Utility and power firm Naturgy has started building its first BESS projects in Spain, at four solar PV plants in Almeria and the Canary Islands.

European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE), which represents 70 member organisations across the industry value chain, has undergone a rebrand.

The first large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) with grid-forming capabilities in Germany was inaugurated a few days ago.

A flurry of grid-scale BESS project progress totalling more than a combined 1.5GWh in the past week, from Renalfa in Bulgaria, Engie in Romania, Nala Renewables in Finland and Metlen in Greece.

We catch up with the CFO and co-founder of German BESS own-operate platform Terra One, after its €150 million (US$173 million) mezzanine financing to scale up in Europe’s hottest energy storage market.

Asset manager AIP Management has bought a 49% stake in a 2.4GWh UK portfolio from global BESS investment platform BW ESS for a deal in excess of £650 million (US$873 million).

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’.