Current energy storage batteries will need to be replaced around 2030, as their lifecycle is roughly five years, and we will need to consider a different level of storage facilities, Virgiliu Ivan, General Director of the National Energy Dispatch Center (DEN) at Transelectrica, stated on Monday at an industry event.
"In my opinion, the storage batteries we currently have will need to be replaced sometime around 2030 or shortly thereafter. Their actual lifecycle is around five years, and we will need to think about a different level of storage facilities. I have said it before: the batteries, the storage systems, we have now represent the first generation of industrial batteries. Undoubtedly, as they are used, improvements will be required, driven by both the developers and the investors and operators. For 2030, we need to consider storage facilities with 'Grid-Forming' capabilities [power electronics equipment acting as a voltage source]. However, a Grid-Forming battery does not mean all capability requirements are met," emphasized the General Director of the National Energy Dispatch Center. On the other hand, speaking at the conference, he advocated for education and training in the energy sector, suggesting that primary legislation should mandate that all energy companies invest in research.
"Another issue concerns education. (...) Funding is also needed for research, because we need to master these phenomena. You have to get into the lab, conduct research, and analyze, but where does the money come from? And here, I believe that through primary legislation, all energy companies should somehow be required to invest in research. This would enable us to establish partnerships with universities and schools, allowing us to train and develop together. Without research, we will end up buying technology rather than having our own specialists, and we will remain beholden to the countries that do invest in technology," Ivan added.
Alive Capital organized the "GET ALIVE! 2026 - BESS" conference, dedicated to Battery Energy Storage Systems, at the "Carol I" Central University Library Hall in Bucharest.
The event brought together investors, project developers, financial institution representatives, and technical specialists to analyze the lifecycle of a storage project, from the development stage through to commercial operation.
