As Europe moves towards a greater share of energy generated by renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar photovoltaic, our energy systems will require a greater degree of flexibility to adjust for the fluctuations in energy production. Energy storage is – in combination with other technologies – well suited to respond to this challenge and ensure a continued security of energy supply at any time. The EERA Joint programme for Energy Storage is the first pan-European programme to bring together all major fields of energy storage research. JP ES therefore represents a unique opportunity to align research and development activities in the field.
The EERA Joint Programme on Energy Storage (JP ES) was officially launched in 2011 and is coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. This JP strongly fosters the efficient development of new energy storage technologies and supports the SET Plan objectives and priorities by “pooling and integrating activities and resources including international partners” on all levels of the value chain. From the collaborations within the JP ES and with other Joint programmes, synergies result and a long term, durable integration of European Research capacities in energy storage is achieved. Strong links to industrial partners support the transfer of research outcomes to innovation and products in order to establish a strategic European leadership in energy storage. At present, 40 research organizations and universities from 15 different European countries are participating in the JP on Energy Storage. Each JP ES participant has a wide experience in specific fields pertaining to energy storage, important research infrastructures and relevant ongoing research activities, funded by national or European resources.