Energy Storage Readiness Index in Selected European Countries in the Light of Energy Transformation and Energy Security

This article presents research on developing a synthetic measure to assess the readiness of individual EU countries to store energy from renewable energy sources. The authors developed individual measures that describe both the technical aspects of energy storage and the systemic and strategic aspects related to energy security and energy transition. These measures enabled the development of a synthetic measure, the Energy Storage Readiness Index (ESRI-BESS), and scenarios for the development of energy storage facilities in the European Union. TOPSIS and Monte Carlo methods were used. In the research presented, the authors focused their analyses on how the system interacts with storage facilities, rather than on what is installed. A quantitative set of indicators was constructed, embedded in the 4A energy security model. The resulting indicator measures not only whether storage facilities exist but also whether the system is prepared to ensure the country’s energy security. The results obtained indicate the need to build a flexible regulatory framework adapted to the growing role of storage facilities, that is, to facilitate and accelerate the process of connecting storage facilities to the grid. In the context of 4A, it is important to note that energy storage facilities can strengthen all four pillars of energy security when infrastructure development is paralleled by reforms and grid integration. The ability to store and flexibly manage energy is becoming a new dimension of energy transformation.