Storage is the New Currency of the Energy Transition
Storage is the new currency of the energy market. While solar energy has made us producers, storage will determine who holds the real power in the energy transition. Opinion piece.
Over the past two years, I’ve spent a lot of time helping solar companies acquire new customers. I’ve worked closely with teams installing solar panels on rooftops and facades—and I’ve been continually amazed by how rapidly the photovoltaic sector has grown. But the deeper I dive into the energy market, the clearer it becomes: The next big challenge isn’t in generation—it’s in storage.
A recent example illustrates exactly where the market is heading: RWE is taking over the marketing of 50 MW of battery capacity from Terralayr in Germany. Terralayr has aggregated multiple smaller storage systems into a single virtual battery and is now handing over marketing rights to RWE, who can then deploy this capacity flexibly on the market. The model behind it is called a “Multi-Asset Capacity Toll”—a structure that, for the first time, allows smaller storage operators to secure long-term offtake agreements with fixed pricing. You can find all the details here: Article on ee-news.ch.
I see this as a pivotal development. Why? Because it shows exactly where we’re headed: We’ll continue to install solar panels in the years ahead, but eventually, we’ll have maximized the most viable spaces. The question then will be: How do we store energy in a way that ensures it’s available exactly when we need it?
Storage as the Backbone of the Energy Transition
Without storage, the energy transition remains fragmented. With it, it becomes a stable bridge to the future. Flexible battery storage networks—like the ones Terralayr is building—are the key to creating a resilient energy infrastructure. One that serves everyone: grid operators, energy traders, businesses, and households alike.
I believe storage will become the central currency of the energy market in the coming years. Those who control storage capacity will hold the levers of influence—not just over electricity prices, but over the stability of the entire system.
What Drives Me
I’m planning to dive deeper into these topics in the months ahead: How can we accelerate the scaling of storage technology? What market models do we need to ensure that smaller players can participate too? How do we guarantee fair access and long-term predictability for everyone involved?
The energy transition isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a collective project. Storage is the key to making this transition a long-term success story for everyone.
