Energy Storage

Maryland Enacts SB553 Reestablishing Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Commission

Maryland has enacted SB553 (Chapter 252) to reestablish a cross-sector commission on lithium-ion battery safety, effective June 2026 with a mandate through mid-2028. The commission’s work on fire prevention, collection and recycling, and potential extended producer responsibility for lithium-ion batteries will shape future requirements for manufacturers, recyclers, utilities, transport operators, and insurers in the state.

7 May 2026, 07:43mgaleg.maryland.govUnited States

Minnesota EQB Issues 28 April 2026 EQB Monitor With Environmental Review Notices and Deadlines

Minnesota’s Environmental Quality Board has issued its 28 April 2026 EQB Monitor, announcing new environmental review notices, permit decisions, and consultation deadlines for park, industrial, and large battery storage projects across the state. These updates signal key decision points and limited windows for stakeholders to influence project approvals and the Environmental Review Program’s rules, while clarifying where major developments are moving forward without further EIS requirements.

5 May 2026, 15:47content.govdelivery.comUnited States

Michigan MPSC Updates Gas Safety Rules and Launches New Grid Reliability and AMI Measures

On 30 April 2026 the Michigan Public Service Commission adopted updated gas safety rules, new grid resilience reporting metrics and an AMI technical conference order that together raise expectations on utility safety and reliability oversight. These measures will require regulated utilities to align with current federal pipeline standards, prepare for enhanced resilience reporting and deliver an AMI implementation roadmap by August 2026, influencing future investment, risk management and data transparency decisions.

5 May 2026, 13:41mi-psc.my.site.comUnited States

UK Parliament Proposes Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill Covering BESS, Online Sales and Micromobility

A private member’s Bill before the UK Parliament, introduced in July 2024 with its official record updated in April 2026, would create a national framework for lithium-ion battery safety across grid-scale storage, online marketplaces and electric micromobility. If adopted, it would tighten conformity assessment, labelling and disposal requirements for batteries and products containing them, so operators of BESS projects, online platforms and micromobility supply chains should monitor its progress and prepare for rapid implementation via secondary regulations.

5 May 2026, 07:10bills.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

Basque Country Opens Public Consultation On "FF1 Bidasoa Bess" Battery Storage Project In Irun

The Basque Government has opened a 30-working-day public consultation and simplified environmental impact assessment for the FF1 Bidasoa Bess 30 MW battery energy storage project in Irun. This marks progress in grid-scale storage deployment in the Basque Country and gives stakeholders a short window to scrutinise project impacts, influence permit conditions, and prepare for potential local construction and grid-connection activity.

3 May 2026, 14:49euskadi.eusSpain

UN TDG Sub-Committee Working Paper Proposes New Listings for Damaged or Defective Lithium and Sodium Batteries and Pre-Production/Limited-Run Cells

A UN dangerous goods sub-committee working paper issued in April 2026 proposes new UN Model Regulations listings for damaged or defective lithium and sodium batteries and for pre-production and limited-run lithium-ion, lithium-metal and sodium-ion cells and batteries. If these proposals advance into the Model Regulations, global transport rules are likely to gain clearer and potentially stricter requirements for shipping higher-risk or non-standard battery types, so battery manufacturers and shippers should treat this as an early signal to review packaging, classification and logistics practices.

3 May 2026, 14:40docs.un.orgGlobal

Dutch Court Upholds Permit for Solar and Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Hub

In April 2026 the Zeeland-West-Brabant District Court upheld a municipal environmental permit for a large Dutch energy hub combining a 12 MWp solar park with an 8.78 MW lithium-ion battery storage system, rejecting residents’ challenges on planning, safety, noise, and biodiversity grounds. The judgment underscores that battery energy-storage projects designed in line with PGS-37-1 and fire-service guidance are likely to be treated as acceptably safe, signalling how authorities may evaluate similar lithium-ion ESS developments and external-safety risk arguments in future permitting disputes.

30 Apr 2026, 06:51uitspraken.rechtspraak.nlNetherlands

Michigan House Proposes Cyber-Physical Security Requirements For Large Battery Energy Storage Facilities (HB 5848)

Michigan legislators have introduced HB 5848 to impose risk-based cyber-physical security, safety-system, and incident-response requirements on large battery energy storage facilities, backed by significant per-day civil penalties for non-compliance. If enacted, operators and owners of battery storage projects in Michigan would need to align controls with NIST/CISA guidance, upgrade safety-critical infrastructure and planning, and factor potential retrofit and compliance costs into project design and operations.

28 Apr 2026, 19:46legislature.mi.govUnited States

Germany Publishes Netzanschlusspaket Draft To Reform Grid Connection And Redispatch

Germany’s economic ministry has released a Netzanschlusspaket draft law to overhaul electricity grid-connection rules, prioritisation, and redispatch treatment for renewables, storage, and large consumers. If adopted, it would materially change where and how new projects connect, require fully digital grid-connection portals by 2028, and shift more grid-cost and curtailment risk onto developers in congested areas, influencing siting, investment timing, and project economics.

27 Apr 2026, 17:43table.mediaGermany

Lower Saxony Recognises "NetZero Nordwest Deutschland" As Net-Zero Valley Under EU Net-Zero Industry Act

In April 2026 the Lower Saxony government formally designated the north-western region "NetZero Nordwest Deutschland" as a Net-Zero Valley under the EU Net-Zero Industry Act, backed by a strategic environmental assessment and a one-year public display of documentation. This status clusters hydrogen, battery, wind, solar and grid manufacturing projects in a priority region, signalling faster permitting support and improved access to future EU funding while existing environmental safeguards remain in place, making the area a strategic hub for net-zero industrial investment.

25 Apr 2026, 10:49stk.niedersachsen.deGermany

Flevoland Province Adopts Policy for Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems

In April 2026 Flevoland adopted a binding revision of its Environmental Programme that creates a detailed siting and permitting framework for large-scale battery energy storage systems above 1 MW. Projects must now be located near existing energy infrastructure, meet strict size, landscape and safety criteria aligned with forthcoming national PGS 37-1 rules, and secure time-limited permits that prove they ease rather than worsen grid congestion, significantly tightening conditions for BESS developers and municipalities.

24 Apr 2026, 12:02zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

TCEQ Launches New Technology Implementation Grant Program (NTIG)

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is launching a USD 16.5 million New Technology Implementation Grant (NTIG) round in 2026 to co-fund emissions-reduction technologies at stationary sources across Texas, with applications expected to open in May. The program, including dedicated support for electricity storage and oil and gas projects, offers industrial operators a time-limited opportunity to secure grant funding for Clean Air Act-aligned controls and should be integrated into 2026 capital planning and decarbonisation strategies.

24 Apr 2026, 10:35tceq.texas.govUnited States

European Commission Presents AccelerateEU Energy Union Plan for Affordable and Secure Clean Energy

In April 2026 the European Commission issued its AccelerateEU Energy Union Communication, launching a five-pillar plan to respond to the latest fossil fuel price shock and accelerate the shift to affordable, secure clean energy across the EU. The strategy signals tighter crisis coordination, faster electrification and grid investment, and expanded use of EU funding and ETS reforms, meaning energy-intensive industries and utilities should plan now for accelerated capital spending and policy-driven shifts in their fuel and technology mix over the coming decade.

23 Apr 2026, 08:18eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

UK DESNZ And Ofgem Highlight Battery Storage Surplus In Connections Reform Update

In April 2026, DESNZ and Ofgem issued an open letter updating on electricity connections reform and highlighting that grid-scale battery projects now significantly exceed capacity ranges in Great Britain’s reformed connection queue. The letter signals closer oversight of connection offers, possible changes via NESO’s connections methodology consultation, and an expectation that developers and networks proactively manage non-viable capacity to protect consumer costs and deliver clean power targets.

22 Apr 2026, 14:12gov.ukUnited Kingdom

California SB 1428 Would Clarify Gravity-Based Energy Storage Pilot and Tighten Ballast Water Standards

California’s SB 1428, which has passed the state Senate and moved to the Assembly, would clean up cross-references in the gravity-based energy storage well pilot, update ballast water management provisions for marine invasive species, and make minor adjustments to wildfire resilience and port land governance in the Public Resources Code. If enacted, it would confirm ambitious 2030 and 2040 ballast water treatment performance milestones for vessels, align California’s ballast water rules more closely with federal standards while preserving stricter state targets, and provide greater legal clarity for operators involved in energy storage projects and Jack London Square development.

22 Apr 2026, 08:57leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

Netherlands Third LAN Progress Report Confirms New Land-Access and Connection Priority Rules

The Dutch government’s third LAN progress report, published in April 2026, confirms that new land‑access rules and an ACM connection prioritisation framework to tackle electricity grid congestion are now in force. These measures, together with flexible connection contracts, upcoming time‑of‑use tariffs and richer grid‑capacity data, will shape how large users and infrastructure projects secure grid access and should inform investment, siting and flexibility strategies ahead of the July 2026 implementation deadline.

21 Apr 2026, 17:44zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

New York Senate Introduces Bill S9915 on Workforce Standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems

New York has introduced Senate Bill S9915 to make state financial support for large battery energy storage projects conditional on stringent workforce standards, including prevailing wages, apprenticeship utilisation, safety training, and minimum staffing for operations and maintenance workers. If enacted, this would raise labour and compliance expectations for battery storage owners and operators receiving public incentives in New York, potentially affecting project economics, O&M contracting models, and timelines as the state scales up its grid storage capacity.

19 Apr 2026, 18:03nysenate.govUnited States

Massachusetts House Sends Battery Storage Facility Study Order H.5353 to Rules Committee

The Massachusetts House has converted an earlier bill on battery storage facility permitting and penalties (H.4685) into a study order (H.5353), referring the topic to House Rules for further review rather than advancing substantive legislation this session. This removes immediate pressure for new permitting and penalty requirements on battery storage facilities, but confirms that Massachusetts legislators are actively scrutinising how these projects are overseen and may revisit the issue in future sessions.

19 Apr 2026, 14:31malegislature.govUnited States

Netherlands Sets Work Programme to Strengthen Decentralised Energy Developments

On 13 April 2026 the Dutch government published a parliamentary letter setting out how it will strengthen decentralised energy developments, supported by new monitors and studies on onshore wind, solar PV, local energy hubs and heat networks. This non-binding work programme prepares higher 2040 indicative targets and integrated planning and funding tools for local energy systems, signalling long-term support for decentralised renewables, grid-congestion solutions and regional investments that energy-intensive companies should track for future project and location decisions.

18 Apr 2026, 08:12open.overheid.nlNetherlands

Swedish Energy Agency Clarifies Thermal Storage Exclusion Under Kraftlyftet Call

The Swedish Energy Agency has confirmed that, following an EU Commission clarification of GBER Article 41(1)(a), thermal storage investments are effectively ineligible for support under the ongoing Kraftlyftet production and storage call closing on 7 May 2026. This narrows access to state aid for district heating projects, so heat network operators and project developers must refocus Kraftlyftet applications on behind-the-meter storage directly connected to renewable plants or seek alternative funding for network-level thermal storage.

17 Apr 2026, 18:53energimyndigheten.seSwedenEuropean Union