Dutch government sets target for massive battery Storage expansion

The Dutch cabinet published a new vision for energy storage to establish a target of 110 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity by 2040.

Minister Van Veldhoven and State Secretary De Bat presented the plan to the House of Representatives to address the challenges of balancing electricity supply and demand. The government collaborated with grid operators, Energy Storage NL, the ACM, and other authorities to create a Policy Agenda for Energy Storage.

This agreement includes 25 actions to remove bottlenecks and accelerate the growth of large-scale batteries. The goal is to store renewable energy for use when wind and sun are unavailable, while also relieving pressure on a crowded power grid. These measures aim to reduce the need for expensive grid investments and make the national energy system more resilient. The parties agreed on faster permitting processes for large batteries and better compensation models to encourage private investment.

For example, large batteries may be connected to the grid using standard flexible contracts. Additionally, households can receive payments from energy suppliers for using home batteries, heat pumps, or charging stations to balance the grid. This pilot started on 1 November for residents in Gelderland, Utrecht, Flevoland, and Noord-Brabant, with the rest of the country expected to join next year.