The EU’s plan to triple energy storage as renewable power is wasted

Jul 17 2026 · 2 min read

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The European Union has launched its first Tripartite Agreement for Energy Storage, bringing together the European Commission, 22 member states, storage companies and financial institutions to accelerate the deployment of energy storage infrastructure
• The initiative aims to address growing grid challenges as renewable energy generation expands

🔭 The context: Europe currently has around 55 GW of energy storage capacity but plans to reach 200 GW by 2030, with an interim target of 30 to 35 GW by 2028
• Without more storage, increasing volumes of solar and wind power risk being curtailed because grids cannot absorb electricity when renewable generation peaks

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Energy storage is critical for enabling a renewable-powered electricity system
• By storing excess solar and wind generation and releasing it when demand rises, batteries and other storage technologies can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, improve grid stability and accelerate the transition away from carbon-intensive energy sources

⏭️ What’s next: The implementation of the agreement, which is non-binding, would depend on overcoming barriers including slow permitting, grid connection delays and regulatory challenges such as double-charging for storage operators
• The European Commission plans to monitor the progress annually through 2028

💬 One quote: “Energy storage is now indispensable to the EU’s energy system.” – European Commission

📈 One stat: The EU aims to increase energy storage capacity from 55 GW today to 200 GW by 2030

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