Bigger, longer-duration projects and more sophisticated deal structuring are driving the energy storage industry forward, but a lack of common approaches from transmission system operators (TSOs) remains a challenge.

IPP Neoen will provide Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) with grid-forming function from a BESS project in Brittany, France.

A trio of large-scale BESS announcements by major power firms of 700-800MWh capacity each in Germany show the country’s energy storage market moving into the new era of scale.

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

The government of Portugal has announced plans to invest €400 million (US$466 million) to improve its grid management capabilities and increase its battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity.

Cyprus’s electricity regulator has approved plans to install 400MWh of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the Mediterranean island country.

The government of South Africa has revealed the preferred bidders in the third window of its Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP), with IPPs Mulilo and Scatec winning the projects.

Energy storage owner-operator BW ESS and Zelos Energy Developments have announced a 1.5GW pipeline of BESS projects in Germany, aiming for ready-to-build (RTB) status over the next two years. 

KNESS has secured a €9.6 million (US$10.35 million) loan from Oschadbank for a battery storage project in Ukraine.

The energy storage market in Italy has unique characteristics that mean more risk-averse investment funds will be able to enter, but upcoming auctions could be very competitive, driving down clearing prices, a director at consultancy Timera Energy said.