The energy transition is considered one of the largest infrastructure projects of our time. Yet while the national electricity market often dominates the debate, one crucial question is still too rarely asked: How can storage solutions be operated in a way that makes them not only efficient in the electricity market, but also effective at the regional level? A project in the Allgäu region is now providing answers.

What is REGIOlink? What is the purpose of REGIOlink? Who can use REGIOlink?

With its “REGIOlink” model, green flexibility has developed a practice-oriented and cooperative concept for regionally grid-supportive operation of large-scale battery storage systems. While terms like “grid-supportive” or “grid-neutral” are currently widely discussed, a uniform and regulatory clear definition is often missing. This is exactly where the white paper (in German) by the Research Center for Energy Economics (Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft, FfE) comes in.

In particular, the term grid-supportive is being heavily overused. Our goal is not so much to discuss terminology, but rather to focus on concepts and solutions. Battery storage systems are considered an essential element of the energy transition – and rightly so. But the reality is more complex: The current boom in grid connection applications shows that, while storage systems are on trend, new challenges are emerging.

Between Power Price and Grid Constraints – Why Regional Grid Signals Are Crucial for Battery Storage Systems The expansion of battery energy storage systems (BESS) is essential for the energy transition. But as the market grows, so does its complexity: national market mechanisms increasingly collide with regional grid realities. The following example illustrates why battery storage must be operated not only economically but also in a grid-supportive way:

How Battery Storage Systems Can Contribute to Grid Stability – A Practical Example from Southern Germany The expansion of large-scale battery storage is a key factor in a successful energy transition. Yet while public discourse often focuses on the macroeconomic benefits, regional characteristics are frequently overlooked. It is precisely these local grid conditions that determine the true effectiveness and compatibility of battery storage systems.