Dutch government targets 110 GWh of battery storage by 2040

The Dutch government wants battery storage capacity to reach 110 gigawatt-hours by the end of 2040, more than 50 times the level at the end of last year, under an agreement with energy and public-sector bodies.

Climate and Energy Minister Stientje van Veldhoven and State Secretary Jo-Annes de Bat told MPs that expanding storage would help make renewable electricity available when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing. The government also says batteries could ease pressure on the electricity grid.

Grid congestion is leaving households and businesses waiting for new or upgraded connections across much of the Netherlands, the report says. Delays are also affecting new housing construction. Storing or using electricity near where it is generated could reduce the strain.

The agreement involves grid operators, the energy-storage industry association, local and regional authorities, and the Dutch competition watchdog, the ACM. Its stated aim is to remove obstacles to expansion, including by speeding up permits for large batteries and agreeing how available grid capacity should be allocated, on what terms and for what fees.

The report gives no breakdown of how the 110 GWh target would be delivered or how much it would cost. It says the planned capacity would be enough to supply about 37,000 households with electricity for a year.