STEPS - STorage of Energy & Power Systems in NWE

Project Summary

STEPS will strengthen the competitiveness of NWE innovative storage providers by using a user-centric, demand-driven approach to bring products closer to market. STEPS will drive down the time energy storage SMEs typically spend on technology demonstration before reaching market maturity from an average of 5 years to 1-2, while maintaining maximum commercial usability. 

Tailored energy
As the NWE is increasingly investing in distributed renewable energies (e.g. roof-mounted solar PV), the need for medium capacity energy storage solutions becomes apparent, with a market potential reaching €250bn by 2025.  Heavily subsidized batteries from the US and Asia outpace EU suppliers through price-competition, and currently supply 80% of the storage market in NWE. Many of these mass-produced solutions are not tailored to the needs of local market segments including, e.g. housing providers, energy cooperatives and business parks. These use cases could benefit from tailored storage technologies, new technologies or adapted business models (e.g.Storage-as-a-Service).

Innovative NWE storage products are currently stuck at TRL5/6 and face significant barriers, ranging from fragmented regulations & funding sources, limited testing abilities and unawareness of final consumers.

Expectations
More than 50 future end-user of storage will be trained on using a new tool to model their e-storage need with direct links to a portfolio of 250-300 solution providers from NWE. On the long-term, this will position NWE as a leading storage player, gaining up to the 30% of the market with more than 120 new e-storage solutions commercialised and leading to the generation of >1100 new jobs.

Take your e-storage solution from test stage to market ready

Apply to the programme today!

STEPS Business Support Programme

Project Partners

  • Flux50

    144 Koningsstraat
    Brussels
    1000
    Belgium

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  • National University of Ireland Galway

    The DERI Building IDA Business Park, Lower Dangan
    Galway
    H91 TK33
    Ireland

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  • Provinciale ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Vlaanderen

    2 Woodrow Wilsonplein
    Gent
    9000
    Belgium

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  • Universiteit Twente

    5 Drienerlolaan
    Enschede
    7522
    Netherlands

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  • Universiteit Gent

    5 Campus Ufo, Rectoraat, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat
    Gent
    9000
    Belgium

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  • House of Energy e.V.

    12 Universitätsplatz
    Kassel
    34127
    Germany

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  • 3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea)

    Kilkenny Research and Innovation Centre, Burrell Hall
    Kilkenny
    R95 TP64
    Ireland

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  • Cambridge Cleantech

    Future Business Centre, Kings Hedges Rd
    Cambridge
    CB4 2QZ
    United Kingdom

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  • The Faraday Institution

    Quad One, Becquerel Avenue, Harwell Campus
    Didcot
    OX11 0RA
    United Kingdom

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  • Galway Energy Co-operative

    New Line
    Oranmore
    H91 WC8A
    Ireland

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  • Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Nederland NV

    1026 P.O. Box
    Apeldoorn
    NL-7301BG
    Netherlands

    View partner details

Lead partner

Organisation Address Email Website
Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Nederland NV 1026 P.O. Box
Apeldoorn
NL-7301BG
Netherlands 		wieteke.meijer@oostnl.nl www.oostnl.nl
Name Contact Name Email Country
Flux50 Frederik Loeckx Frederik.loeckx@flux50.com Belgium
National University of Ireland Galway Niall Ó Brolcháin niall.obrolchain@insight-centre.org Ireland
Provinciale ontwikkelingsmaatschappij Oost-Vlaanderen Gieles Kinget gieles.kinget@pomov.be Belgium
Universiteit Twente Braham Ferreira j.a.ferreira@utwente.nl Netherlands
Universiteit Gent Jan Desmet JanJ.Desmet@UGent.be Belgium
House of Energy e.V. Christian Engers c.engers@house-of-energy.org Germany
3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea) Paddy Phelan pphelan@3cea.ie Ireland
Cambridge Cleantech Sam Goodall sam.goodall@cambridgecleantech.org.uk United Kingdom
The Faraday Institution Ian Ellerington ian.ellerington@faraday.ac.uk United Kingdom
Galway Energy Co-operative Vincent Carragher vincentcarragher@gmail.com Ireland
See all projects

A new Business Support Programme for energy storage companies within North-West Europe launched in January 2021. The STorage of Energy and Power Systems (STEPS) Business Support Programme will support small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in bringing their energy storage solutions to the market.

As part of the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) programme, the STEPS project aims to strengthen the collaboration and competitiveness of businesses in the region and lead NWE to the forefront of energy storage innovation. 

The 2nd Call for Applications is open from 25 May. So apply now!

Are you an energy storage solution provider in North-West Europe (NWE) and do you want to bring your product to the market? STEPS can provide support from knowledge partners in NWE and connect you with end-users and demonstrate your technology at their testbed. For more information, please go here.

 

 

Take your e-storage solution from test stage to market ready

Apply to the programme today!

STEPS Business Support Programme

News

EU Interreg project STEPS supports aspiring SME Voltfang from Aachen, Germany

Posted on

The goal of the STEPS project (STorage of Energy and Power Systems) is to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the North-West Europe region (NWE) bring their product to the market and increase their competitiveness. One of the SMEs selected in the first round of the project is Voltfang. The start-up company was founded in July 2020 in Aachen by Roman Alberti, Afshin Doostdar and David Oudsandji, recent graduates of RWTH Aachen in the fields of Energy and Industrial Engineering. Together with a team of 10 they develop stationary battery storage systems from re-used Lithium-Ion batteries of electric vehicles for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. We asked Roman Alberti from Voltfang about their company and what the STEPS programme means for their growth. Read More

State of the Art Report on Storage Technologies, Opportunities and Trends

Posted on

Are you a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) operating in the energy storage market? Get expert insights with the STEPS NWE State-of-the-Art Report. As part of the EU-funded STEPS project, renowned organisations investigated the current state of medium-capacity energy storage (e-storage) and the e-storage industries based in North-West Europe (NWE). The overview helps SMEs striving to establish their position in the competitive e-storage market by defining the landscape and highlighting its opportunities and trends. With this publication, SMEs can make informed decisions to seize their opportunities and boost their products. Read More

Successful support and European integration of Innovative energy storage SMEs

Posted on

The STEPS Business Support Programme successfully moves forward and shows first results. SMEs selected in March for the programme have received support from knowledge institutions and already progressed their TRL levels. Three SMEs are now ready to progress to the final stage and four further SMEs are already in the final stage to start testing under ‘real-life’-conditions, with partly cross-border testing involved. Meanwhile, 25 new innovative SMEs applied for the Business Support Programme and are now being assessed for enrollment. Read More

New Call STEPS to grow your energy storage innovation with the STEPS Programme

Posted on

An exciting opportunity for energy storage innovators in North-West Europe to develop their technologies opens this month. The STEPS Business Support Programme works with small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and offers support to take their solutions from the test stage to market ready. Operating within North-West Europe (NWE), the free programme gives SMEs the opportunity to optimise their products and develop their technologies with real-life testing. Read More

Successful take-off STEPS Business Support Programme

Posted on

In March 2021 energy storage technology in North-West Europe will get a boost as the Business Support Programme of STEPS begins. Up to 20 SMEs will each receive €12.5k worth of support from world renowned universities to further develop their energy storage solutions. We are excited to see the great interest in the programme as more than 55 SMEs have applied during this first open call. Read More

Accelerating innovative e-storage solutions with the STEPS Business Support Programme

Posted on

A new business support programme for energy storage companies within North-West Europe launches next month. The STorage of Energy and Power Systems (STEPS) Business Support Programme will support small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in bringing their energy storage solutions to the market. As part of the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) programme, the STEPS project aims to strengthen the collaboration and competitiveness of businesses in the region and lead NWE to the forefront of energy storage innovation. Applications for SMEs to receive knowledge and business support will open on 11th January 2021. Read More

STEPS Events

14th Energy Storage World Forum

, Online

Why Download The Programme Now: Gain Insights From Over 10 Utilities Including Tennet, RWE, Engie, Enel And More! Thoroughly Researched Topics On Accurately Predicting Renewable Energy Generation, Business Models For Hybrid ESS, Concluding The Optimum Depth Of Discharge And More Learn From An International Lineup Featuring Speakers From 13 Different Countries Benefit From 22 In-Depth Topics & 13 End-User Speakers At A Very Affordable Price Of Just €280
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IRES: International Energy Storage Conference

, Online

Die dreitägige Online-Konferenz findet komplementär zur Energy Storage Europe 2021 statt. Der erste Veranstaltungstag am 16. März wird gemeinsam mit der Messe und dem BVES ausgerichtet. An den beiden folgenden IRES-Konferenztagen, am 17. und 18. März, finden in zwei beziehungsweise drei parallelen Konferenzsträngen Vorträge und Diskussionen mit hochkarätiger deutscher und internationaler Besetzung statt.
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STEPS DESIGN FOR SAFETY IN BATTERY SYSTEMS SYMPOSIUM

, Online

Because of the vital role of the battery in energy storage applications, it is important to have a special attention to the battery pack which acts as a heart for the energy storage system. The University of Twente as a knowledge partner in STEPS project wants to organize a symposium that the purpose is to create awareness about safety considerations and provide useful design for safety information in battery systems as applicable to STEPS.
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