Patrick Clerens

Europe's rapid solar expansion is pushing power grids to their limits. Grid operators across the continent are now turning to co-located solar-plus-storage systems to stabilize networks, absorb excess generation and unlock new connection capacity. These projects mark a shift from asset-centric storage design to grid-integrated operation and market-based procurement.   This session highlights recent 2026 initiatives that show how integrated solar-plus-storage assets can reinforce the grid by providing congestion relief, voltage and inertia support and firm capacity, thereby enabling higher renewable penetration and broader market participation. Speakers will share lessons from real-world projects demonstrating how close coordination between grid operators, developers and flexibility providers transforms solar-plus-storage systems from a balancing resource into essential grid infrastructure.

The European market for battery cells is currently heavily focused on the automotive sector. Companies therefore continue to rely predominantly on Asian production sites for stationary battery storage. The recent bankruptcies of European cell manufacturers are further exacerbating this dependency, while new players are entering the market, both with conventional lithium-ion technology and with alternative cell chemistries. At the same time, the first European governments are initiating subsidy programs for stationary battery storage systems that require a minimum quota of European components. Will this approach prevail across Europe?While the expansion of storage capacities is being promoted politically, there are also countervailing trends, such as the discussions in the German Federal Ministry of Economics about a possible restriction of the expansion. This session highlights key developments, challenges and future paths for the European storage market.