Why the EU supports energy storage research and innovation
At any moment in time, electricity consumption and generation have to be perfectly matched.
This balance is necessary in all electricity grids to maintain a stable and safe supply.
Energy storage can stabilise fluctuations in demand and supply by allowing excess electricity to be saved in large quantities.
With the energy system relying increasingly on renewables, more and more energy use is electric. Energy storage therefore has a key role to play in the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen can act as a fuel, an energy carrier to transport and to store large quantities of renewable-sourced energy over long periods of time, which gives it an important role to play in the clean energy transition.
The EU promotes several research and innovation projects on hydrogen within Horizon 2020.
On 8 July 2020 the EU hydrogen strategy was adopted. This strategy will explore how clean hydrogen can help reduce the EU economy’s carbon emissions, and make the EU climate-neutral by 2050.
Find more on research on renewable hydrogen.
Batteries
With electrification set to be one of the main pathways to decarbonisation, batteries as electricity storage devices will become one of the key enablers of a low-carbon economy.
Global demand for batteries is expected to grow very rapidly over the coming years, making the market for batteries a very strategic one.
Factsheets
Research and innovation for the new batteries regulation
Research and innovation for sustainable batteries
More about batteries research
Funding opportunities
Calls for proposal on energy related themes in Horizon Europe and information on the work programme.
Energy research related calls may be found in these funds
Funding for innovative low-carbon technology research with focus on environmentally safe Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and innovative renewable energy technologies
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is the successor organisation of the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA).
Prize rewarding achievements in local renewable energy production for electricity, heating, cooling and transport on islands.
Projects and results
The Commission's primary portal for EU-funded research projects and their results
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded projects
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU.
Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships.
Batteries policy recommendations based on evidence provided by EU research and innovation projects.
Thematic collections of innovative EU-funded research results in the energy field
Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more
Collaboration and jobs
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
Collaborate in energy research and innovation public-private partnerships
International cooperation between the EU and global stakeholders in energy
Researcher jobs in related fields
Scientific publications, tools and databases
SET-Plan implementation progress reports giving data by priority area, country and energy source
Scientific energy research publications published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access energy research related ones here
Online library of EU energy storage research publications
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE