European Energy Storage Power Source Factory

In March 2025, the Commission launched the European Energy Storage Inventory, a real-time dashboard that displays energy storage levels across different European countries. It is the first European-level tool of its kind and offers energy storage data across a full range of technologies.

It can also facilitate the electrification of different economic sectors, notably buildings and transport. The main energy storage method in the EU is by far 'pumped hydro' storage, but battery storage projects are rising. A variety of new technologies to store energy are also rapidly developing and becoming increasingly market-competitive.

The inventory provides policymakers with up-to-date data to shape energy security strategies and the EU's revised Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). The inventory also has the potential to feed into the Clean Energy Technology Observatory, ensuring that storage trends are considered in EU-wide energy technology assessments.

Compared to classic renewables, energy storage has really only become an investable asset in Europe over the last few years on the back of technology advances, market price signals, and government support mechanisms.

For short-duration energy storage assets, there are really three key revenue streams for energy storage assets in Europe. The first one is capacity payments, which have become a broadly implemented policy measure by governments to support system reliability and incentivize the installation of certain new power asset types.

It addresses the most important issues contributing to the broader deployment of energy storage. EU countries should consider the double 'consumer-producer' role of storage by applying the EU electricity regulatory framework and by removing barriers, including avoiding double taxation and facilitating smooth permitting procedures.