It is necessary to use electricity generated form solar panels effectively, and the key is to adopt energy storage devices. SolarPower Europe calls the European Commission to show its support for developing solar power and to implement ten relevant policies they proposed.

Former the EPIA, SolarPower Europe targets at prompting solar power to help energy transformation and to create a more sustainable environment. The association plans to introduce the Energy Union Package in near future, which is aiming to improve reliability and accessibility of solar power by combining solar generation and energy storage.

“The industry is being very successful in bringing down the cost of stationary battery storage and in improving its ability to provide efficient services and solutions to the market,” stated Riccardo Amoroso, Chief Innovation Officer of Enel Green Power and Vice President of SolarPower Europe. “Today we need European policy makers to put in place stable regulatory conditions including clear definitions and an appropriate market design to ensure a level playing field among competing solution providers. Such conditions will allow for further innovations and corresponding market growth.”

Solar plus battery storage allows consumers to implement new and smart business models that maximize the value of solar electricity. It unlocks solar’s flexibility potential at the consumer level – consumers could now offer services to grid operators. On a system level, solar generation can be used more cost-effectively together with storage.

On basis of these advantages, SolarPower Europe published a 10-point-listed policy priorities program and is now trying to convince the European Commission implementing. The association’s Executive Advisor, Michael Schmela, believes that EU could reach the target of increase renewable energy share to 27% by 2030 if the regulatory environment for solar and storage is set effectively because solar power will strongly contribute to the target. The policy propose could even help the EU to achieve the 35% target in the new REDII 2030 directive.

The outline to Solar & storage 10 policy priorities are as following:

1. An EU-wide definition of “electricity storage” should be introduced in the revised Electricity Directive.
2. Clarifying the definition and rights of active consumers regarding storage: the REDII should enshrine the right for consumers to self-generate and consume renewable energy.
3. An appropriate reform of the intraday markets is crucial for enabling large-scale solar plants to better take on balancing responsibilities.
4. A real market for selling and procuring flexibility services must be developed, both at transmission and distribution levels.
5. A clear basis regarding rules and circumstances under which TSOs and DSOs may operate storage solutions must be developed.
6. Targeted solar tenders can incorporate as a weighting selection criteria the co-location of solar & storage (for instance on islands).
7. The exchange of electricity on a community scale via collective self-consumption schemes must be possible for active consumers. Third party intermediaries should be allowed to operate active consumers’ electricity storage devices via pooling platforms, such as virtual power plants or peer-to-peer mechanisms.
8. Clear rules regarding data transparency and access for all stakeholders are required.
9. Active consumers should be remunerated fairly for providing their devices to deliver services that support the electric grid.
10. Distribution grid tariffs must be “fit for the energy transition”.

(Photo Source: SolarPower Europe)