Energy ministry officials have reached an advanced stage for a formula concerning standalone battery system auction rules, but are expected to require a further two months or so to finalize all the details.

Given the work still needed, officials are expected to announce a first standalone energy storage auction at the end of the first quarter in 2023.

The capacity to be allocated for each of two auctions is one of the details that still need to be determined at the energy ministry.

Officials initially intended to evenly split an overall capacity of 900 to 1,000 MW between the two sessions, but are now considering allocating a greater share of the total to the first of the two auctions.

In addition, ministry officials have yet to decide on the licensing maturity level investors behind storage units will need to have reached in order to be able to participate in these auctions.

Investors may be required to have obtained finalized connection terms to be considered eligible for the energy storage auctions, a prerequisite that applies for renewable energy facilities and their respective auctions.

Whatever the outcome, authorities are looking to create conditions that will ensure high levels of auction participation and competition amongst bidders.

The government plans to allocate a Recovery Fund sum of 200 million euros as support for energy storage projects.

As regards energy storage projects for which permits have already been issued, 62, or 22 percent of the total, are planned to have capacities in excess of 100 MW. Of these, 16 possess capacities of more than 200 MW, the largest of these reaching 300 MW.