The company plans to introduce the standard for flexible battery storage connections across all of its German network operators by the end of 2026. Under the arrangement, BESS operators agree to temporarily reduce the amount of electricity they import or export during periods of high network demand. In return, storage systems can connect using existing grid capacity rather than waiting for major network upgrades.  

E.On’s flexible connection standard was developed with battery storage company Eco Stor and tested at its Bollingstedt project in Schleswig-Holstein before being adopted more widely.

The change comes as demand for battery storage connections continues to grow. E.On has already committed to connecting around 25GW of BESS capacity and has received requests for a further 500GW, equivalent to around six times Germany’s current peak electricity demand.  

Other companies are also preparing for larger deployment. Energy infrastructure developer NatPower and Tesla have signed a strategic agreement covering more than 25GWh of battery energy storage systems across Europe. The agreement forms part of NatPower’s wider battery storage programme, which aims to deploy up to 100GWh of capacity across several European markets over the coming years.

Battery storage is becoming more important as Europe’s electricity system changes. As more renewable generation comes online, electricity networks need greater flexibility to balance supply and demand throughout the day. Batteries are well-suited to that role because they can store surplus electricity when generation is high before supplying it back to the grid as demand rises.

Batteries can also relieve pressure on electricity networks, reduce the need for some grid reinforcement and provide services traditionally supplied by gas-fired power stations. As deployment grows, the speed at which new capacity can be connected and integrated into the electricity system is becoming a more important consideration.

Energy think tank Ember forecasts the EU’s battery fleet will grow from 43GW in 2025 to 178GW by 2030, with utility-scale projects accounting for most of the expansion. In a recently published report it argues that battery storage will play a growing role in balancing electricity supply and demand as larger volumes of renewable electricity come onto the grid.

Ember also estimates that by 2030 Europe’s battery fleet could provide more than 80% of the hourly power output currently available from EU gas-fired power stations. The report concludes that batteries are among the lowest-cost options for providing short-term system flexibility.

Battery storage is no longer defined simply by individual projects. Connecting enough new capacity to support Europe’s changing electricity system is becoming just as important as developing the technology itself, suggests the report.