First-ever EU tripartite agreement to support energy storage

Energy storage can play a key role in reducing and stabilising energy prices

The first tripartite agreement aims to accelerate the deployment of energy storage in the short term, making the electricity system more secure and flexible. The launch of the tripartite agreement is another important step towards a decarbonised system that is more efficient and able to deliver cheaper energy, according to the EC.

The Commission recalled that energy storage can play a key role in reducing and stabilising energy prices, and the EU must therefore expand domestic renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and strengthen security of supply. Increasing the use of renewable energy alone is not enough. It must be combined with a more optimal way of operating the energy system, where energy storage is essential.

Energy storage is the missing link in the energy transition and can play a key role in reducing and stabilising energy prices. The EU must expand domestic renewable energy sources to reduce its dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets and strengthen security of supply.

30-35 GW of storage capacity by 2027
The first tripartite agreement will help create a favourable business environment for the rapid and large-scale expansion of storage across Europe, reduce the system's operating costs, ease the pressure of high and volatile energy prices on EU businesses and strengthen the EU's production capacity in this sector.

As part of the agreement, 22 EU Member States have committed to making ambitious energy storage commitments over the next two years. Together, these pledges represent 30-35 GW of storage capacity.

Energy storage and renewable energy developers will provide annual estimates of new energy storage projects, while energy-intensive industries have committed to developing energy storage projects on their own sites and to providing data on when and how much electricity they use.

Next steps
The Commission will lead and coordinate the implementation of the objectives of this tripartite agreement and monitor progress annually until 2028. It will also support the exchange of information between signatories on challenges and best practices in the field of energy storage through the Energy Union Working Group, regional groups and other existing fora, such as the Common Action on Renewable Energy (CA-RES).

On the other hand, Member States will support the energy storage sector by removing obstacles that slow down progress. They will allow national regulators to set or approve cost-reflective and non-discriminatory network tariffs. Where necessary, Member States will provide financial support for the deployment and production of energy storage through national funds and EU funding in line with State aid rules - such as the Clean Industry Aid Framework (CISAF).

Financial institutions (national and regional banks) will share expertise on energy storage projects to make them attractive to investors, work with the European Investment Bank and each other. The Commission will also support EU Member States through the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank, explore ways to support the deployment of energy storage under the Innovation Fund and assess ways to improve the consistency of investments in public sector transformation with EU environmental objectives.

It is estimated that the EU will need around 200 GW of storage capacity by 2030 to meet the needs of its energy system, compared to around 55 GW installed at the beginning of this year.

Data from the Slovak Electromobility Association (SEVA) shows that the increase in the number of electric vehicles on the road and the development of infrastructure are no longer a fringe trend but a mainstream one. “Slovakia has a significantly larger electric fleet, a more powerful network and almost a thousand public points with an output of at least 150 kW compared to the previous year,” says the association’s director, Patrik Križanský. “Electromobility is already taking off in Slovakia with a similar dynamic and momentum as the electric car itself,” he adds.

The network’s output grew three times faster than the number of points

The public charging network did not only grow in terms of the number of points on the map, but also underwent a significant technological shift. While at the end of June 2025 its total installed output reached just under 162 MW, a year later it was more than 343 MW.

Of the total number of 3,707 public charging points, 1,989 are for regular AC charging, 749 for fast DC charging with a power of up to 150 kW, 616 for high-power points up to 350 kW and another 353 for ultra-fast points with a power of more than 350 kW. Slovakia now has 969 public charging points with a power of 150 kW and more, almost double the number last year.

The second quarter of the current year was particularly strong. From the end of March to the end of June, 571 public charging points were added