2026 Agenda

• What is driving the move toward tolling and hybrid structures, and why has confidence in pure merchant exposure cooled?
• Revenue frameworks that capital providers now view as bankable for multi-hour storage
• How tolling structures distribute risk and stabilise cashflows for investors
• Why tolls have become a standout route-to-market in 2026, and how this differs from earlier cycles
• What emerging tolling providers bring to the table that fixed-price or merchant-only contracts cannot deliver

• With power consumption estimated to reach 1,000 TWh by 2026 alone, what key challenges are data centers coming up against now – keeping up with demand, grid constraints, or procurement expertise?
• Data indicates a regional shift in data center growth with much capacity located outside of traditional hubs – where do data centers see the future build-out happening?  
• What are the challenges and opportunities on this in terms of connectivity, load balancing, and co-benefits?  
• How can providers overcome the disconnect between market expectations and deliverability, and how is the storage industry best positioned to solve some of these bottlenecks? 

• Defining the GB and European BESS requirements
• Analysing saturation risks and revenue impacts
• Modelling downside risks and equity upside
• Structuring a robust investment case and debt financing

Hyperscale demand is rising fast, but grid constraints and operational complexity are slowing delivery. This session explores how AI- and IoT-enabled storage digitalisation helps overcome these barriers by bringing clarity, consistency, and control to mixed BESS fleets. We’ll unpack how unified monitoring, risk-aware dispatch, and evidence-grade reporting reduce operational risk, strengthen availability, and give investors, insurers, and offtakers the confidence needed to support hyperscale growth.

• Which revenue structures, counterparties, tenors, and DSCRs bring lenders to the table — and when do they walk away? 
• What role does debt play in financing energy storage projects in 2026? 
• What are the project finance complexities presented by energy storage now? 
• Where do lenders stand on risk appetite for projects in emerging European markets? 

• How data centres are prioritizing securing grid connectivity
• Can storage provide a reliable alternative to new CCGTs and diesel, for powering data centre growth?
• How storage can help operators manage grid access delays, price volatility, and 24/7 renewable supply
• Do data centers have a role to play balancing a renewables-heavy grid supply?
• What financing and partnership models (own vs third-party) make storage viable for hyperscalers and colocation providers?
• What opportunities exist to share resource with districts, for example through combined heat and power? How can storage facilitate this?
• What technical, regulatory, and permitting hurdles must be overcome for storage to be part of the solution?

As the global push for decarbonization accelerates, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming a cornerstone of modern power infrastructure. They enable grid flexibility, stabilize renewables, and support peak-shaving in urban and industrial zones. Driven by ambitious climate targets, governments and developers are rapidly deploying BESS near load centers, often close to residential and commercial communities. Yet this market shift brings an often underestimated challenge into sharp focus: noise. This presentation will explore the main sources of BESS noise, the technical and regulatory challenges faced in real project applications, and share field insights on how our AlphaESS solution enables quieter, community-friendly BESS deployments.

• How rising shares of variable renewables affect system stability, inertia and fault recovery
• Operational challenges created by greater intermittency and uncertainty across the grid
• The role of power electronics and what shifts in grid dynamics mean for system operators
• Barriers to large scale deployment, including high storage costs, evolving policy frameworks and immature market mechanisms
• Why data security, interoperability and cross sector coordination are becoming core system risks
• Where grid forming PCS strengthens system stability, and what gaps remain
• How NR’s NR ISGrid solution integrates power system engineering with power electronics and what has been demonstrated across more than 100 validated projects

As artificial intelligence accelerates into every sector, data centres are facing an unprecedented surge in power demand. This presentation explores how the convergence of AI, hyperscale computing, and energy infrastructure is reshaping electricity consumption and grid dynamics across the UK and Europe.

Attendees will gain insights into how Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming critical to bridging the gap between the grid’s limitations and the relentless growth of data processing needs. The session will examine:

• The scale and speed of AI-driven data centre expansion and its impact on power networks.
• How energy storage technologies are evolving to support data centre reliability, flexibility, and decarbonisation goals.
• The emerging role of hybrid energy solutions—integrating storage, renewables, and flexible grid services—to meet 24/7 uptime and power quality requirements.
• Innovation trends driving the next generation of energy infrastructure for the AI era.

This session will outline the opportunities and challenges for developers, utilities, and investors at the crossroads of digital and energy transformation—and how storage can be the linchpin in powering the world’s growing digital intelligence sustainably.

• Why many early movers fail to reach commercial operation, and which capabilities, from raising capital to EPC execution and OEM partnerships, determine success 
• How investors differentiate between credible platforms and over-extended developers 
• The specific risks facing smaller players in markets like Germany, Italy, and Spain and how they can still compete 

• Contrasting how data centres utilise grid connections compared with TSOs – maximum efficiency vs. reserved capacity
• Highlighting inefficiencies and potential procurement risks that these differences might cause
• Issues around unused capacity and ‘stranded assets’, forecasting usage patterns and AI surges
• What role can data, digital twins and energy modelling play in all of this?
• Who pays for grid reinforcement to serve hyperscale data centres?

In this presentation, Daniel Crotzer, CEO of Fractal EMS will provide a comprehensive overview of the battery storage commissioning process, from mechanical completion to COD, while highlighting pitfalls and best practices. 

The energy storage M&A landscape is shifting as the sector matures and investment expectations change. This session explores how market conditions, revenue visibility and risk perception are influencing deal appetite and valuation trends.

• What is driving the slowdown in storage-related M&A, and to what extent are financing challenges, market maturity and revenue uncertainty shaping investor behaviour?
• Are buyers favouring operational assets, or is there still appetite for development-stage exposure?
• How are investors weighing the benefits of acquiring development platforms, portfolio businesses or individual high-value assets?

• How new grid codes and connection frameworks are changing project timelines and risk allocation 
• How capacity auctions and system service markets (FFR, aFRR, PICASSO) are impacting project revenues 
• What developers and investors need from policymakers to unlock the next wave of capacity 

Utility-scale storage projects face ongoing challenges related to site conditions, power density requirements and compliance with local regulations. This session examines how modular system design can address these constraints, improve project adaptability and support stronger lifecycle performance.

• How can modular hardware and system architecture increase flexibility across different environments, grid conditions and load profiles?
• In what ways does design simplicity improve integration, commissioning and operational stability?
• How do choices made at system design stage influence long-term efficiency, maintenance needs and project returns?
• What role can scalable and policy-aligned system design play in improving deployment timelines and overall asset value?

• How are recent energy price trends in the UK and EU reshaping merchant revenues for storage? 
• What forward price curves and volatility assumptions are investors using in 2026? 
• How tariffs, carbon pricing, and geopolitical factors are influencing spreads 
• Are today’s contracts (tolls, floors, PPAs) adequately capturing future price risk — or leaving projects exposed? 
• Unpredictable cost curves and the impact of this on the commercialisation of assets 

As Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are adopted at an accelerating pace, the risk exposure landscape is evolving. 

The rapid deployment of large-scale BESS projects is creating alternative risk profiles, with changing climate factors, fire hazards, and operational demands that create fresh challenges throughout the project lifecycle. Additionally, the surge in BESS adoption is driving increased production, which brings its own set of changing risks. In this presentation, Zurich Resilience Solutions examines how these dynamic factors are reshaping the risk exposure. We will share how we are adapting our advice to address the potential impacts on the resilience of BESS & the local grid network. 

• After years of consultations around reforms in the grid connection landscape, zonal pricing and market redesign, what are the next steps to enable more deployment in the UK energy storage sector? 
• What does the outcome of the REMA process mean for storage opportunities in the UK? 
• What would make battery storage a clear and easy investment asset with a clear deployment pipeline for 2026 and beyond? 
• What will the reformed national pricing package entail and how will it affect developers’ plans for projects delivered under CP2030? 

Europe’s energy transition faces dual challenges: on one hand, the exponential growth of data centers and large-scale renewable integration pose severe tests to grid stability; on the other hand, supply chain security and localization requirements are reshaping the competitive landscape. In this presentation, EVE Energy will provide an in-depth analysis of the current European energy storage market and propose innovative solutions. We will share insights on how technological advancements and strategic partnerships can help European customers address grid stability challenges while meeting increasingly stringent localization demands. The discussion will focus on innovative pathways such as long-duration energy storage and grid-forming technologies, demonstrating how EVE Energy’s localized collaboration models deliver high-performance energy storage solutions that ensure both operational excellence and supply chain security for Europe’s energy transition.

• What have we learned from market saturation in more mature markets like the UK and US?  
• What are the implications for European markets in the future and how might these be avoided? 
• What might business cases look like in post-saturation scenarios? 
• What to expect from investments and ROI if saturation happen 
• Are project economics improving through scale, co-location, and hybridisation — or being squeezed by market saturation and falling merchant spreads? 

• With many different complicated energy storage regulations taking place in one of Europe’s key markets, what is happening and when? 
• Grid tariff structures, the Baukostenzuschuss (BKZ), the 2028 capacity market and Flexible Connection Agreements – what is most impactful when thinking about the business case for energy storage? 
• Are government and policymakers creating the right market signals for investment into energy storage in Germany? 

Accurate State of Charge (SOC) is the heartbeat of battery performance—and the foundation of revenue optimization. Yet, even small errors can accumulate into significant financial losses, particularly at large-scale sites.

In this session, we’ll share real-world results from multiple battery sites, where SOC inaccuracies were limiting performance. By providing more accurate estimates, traders can make more informed decisions in real time, increasing revenue and avoiding penalties – without adding additional capacity through augmentation.

Attendees will gain:

• Insight into how SOC errors develop and their hidden financial impact
• A clear methodology for identifying and correcting SOC inaccuracies
• Lessons learned from applying advanced analytics at scale
• Tangible evidence that “getting the numbers right” pays off in both performance and profit

• Understanding the key role that energy trading companies will play in post-MACSE Italy 
• The vital role of traders in strong merchant markets such as Germany 
• Energy trading-as-a-service for BESS – what you need to know 
• Frequently changing cost curves and the impact this has on commercialisation and operation of BESS assets 

• Poland and Spain rely on capacity schemes which are subject to de-rating factors, change in power and geopolitical shifts– what happens when these schemes no longer exist? 
• Germany and UK have stronger, but more risky revenue potential based on accessible ancillary services, arbitrage markets and merchant exposure 
• Comparing the benefits of government intervention vs. market-led price signals 

• Key steps to improve and maintain safety and efficiency in asset management
• The benefits of advanced analytics, delivering deeper performance insights and predictive maintenance capabilities
• Real-world case studies demonstrating how these combined approaches translate into measurable operational and financial improvements.

• Maximising BESS profitability in Europe through forecasting and real-time optimisation 
• SoC vs SoH – what impact is this data having on bidding? 
• How using data analytics efficiently will provide asset owners the edge in a competitive market 
• What are the latest advancements in trading and optimisation tools? 
• Storage as a digital asset – digital twins and EMS 

• Exploring the unique business case for energy storage – what makes a BESS project bankable in Germany? 
• Understanding the reality of merchant revenues and why portfolio performance transparency is critical for asset owners and investors  
• Intraday opportunities, arbitrage and wholesale markets– what have others learned when commercializing BESS assets in Germany? 

Hybrid parks that integrate battery storage with solar or wind generation are reshaping how renewable assets operate and participate in energy markets. They mark the next major phase in the sector’s evolution, where flexibility and intelligent optimisation are key to boosting both performance and profitability. 

This session will explore in detail how hybrid parks can be operated as a single flexible asset behind the Point of Interconnection (POI) to maximise value across wholesale and balancing markets. We’ll discuss how to optimise decision-making when managing operational constraints and complex opportunity costs, as well as how AI-driven optimisation can reduce forecasting errors and minimise curtailment losses.

• With revenue highs and lows across European markets seen between 2022 – 2025, what market predictions are expected for 2026 onwards? 
• Will there be a resurgence of revenues or a downturn in markets such as Germany, Italy, the UK, or Poland? 
• Exploring revenues earned by BESS in Europe in correlation to prices 
• What changes to the revenue stack could be seen in European markets, following owners’ diversification of trading portfolios? 

• Has the first round of exceptionally competitive auctions brought more clarity for BESS investors looking at Italy, and what will life after MACSE look like? What about the capacity market and the future MACSE auctions?
• What are the biggest blockers for project execution post-MACSE – from planning and land acquisition, to permitting, construction, and expertise?
• What are the operation obligations and expected performance for being profitable with BESS in Italy?
• Private PPAs and tolling arrangements – the next clear step, but for how long?

Trade actions and tariffs are reshaping battery and power equipment costs. What does this mean for project CAPEX, price volatility, and delivery risk in Europe during 2026 and beyond? 

• How tariffs and trade remedies are influencing cell, module, pack, inverter, and EPC costs, and how persistent the volatility is likely to be 
• Practical mitigation: multi-sourcing, contract clauses, hedging, inventory strategy, nearshoring, and recycling inputs 
• Evidence from 2025: which trade actions have already moved pricing and lead times in Europe 
• EU regulatory impacts on traceability, sustainability reporting, and recycled content, and how these requirements flow through to cost and bankability 

• With safety considerations able to swiftly derail project deployment, how can industry come together to ensure standards are in place long before problems occur? 
• Assessing the new European Battery Regulation 2023/1542 – is this enough to address existing safety concerns and accelerate deployment? 
• Codes and standards for energy storage globally – which market is setting the precedent? 

• What impact will the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy have on Europe’s supply chain resilience and onshoring ambitions? 
• How EU initiatives such as the Critical Raw Materials Act and the 2027 Battery Regulation will influence sourcing, recycling, and manufacturing investment. 
• What do these policies mean for project CAPEX, risk management, and investor appetite? 
• Can Europe realistically reduce dependence on imports from China and other global suppliers and at what cost? 

The increasing deployment of energy storage systems (ESS) globally requires a focus on understanding their hazards and ensuring reliable safety systems. Every ESS is unique in its dimensions, battery types, goals, location of deployment. Fike will present the dangers and causes of thermal runaway, an unpredictable fire hazard occurring in the lithium battery cells held in an ESS. Backed by years of internal test data, we’ll explore the various layered methods of protecting an ESS and, more importantly, nearby people that we recommend to mitigate the effects of thermal runaway, which may include fire, explosion and off-gassing hazards.

• How new technologies and system designs are reshaping risk profiles and influencing long term project profitability
• What developers and asset owners should evaluate during container and system risk assessments to safeguard commercial outcomes
• How warranty structures are evolving, and what level of protection investors now expect across different chemistries and configurations
• How lenders and insurers assess safety, reliability and performance claims when determining bankability and coverage
  Which commercial and technical factors create the greatest warranty disputes, and how these can be anticipated early in the project lifecycle

Venting events in lithium-ion batteries are critical early indicators of thermal runaway and potential fires. Timely detection enables preventive actions such as shutdown, cooling, or targeted alarms, and is essential for protecting people and infrastructure. 

During venting, toxic and flammable gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen are released, which can lead to dangerous deflagrations in enclosed spaces. Without appropriate sensor technology, the fire detection system remains blind to these events. 

Modern sensor systems – including gas detectors and advanced aspirating smoke detectors – enable reliable detection and integration into automated safety processes. As such, venting detection becomes an indispensable part of a comprehensive fire protection strategy for battery storage systems. 

• What recycling challenges will arise as the first wave of utility-scale batteries reaches end-of-life — and how can the industry prepare? 
• How lifecycle assessments are shaping procurement, financing, and compliance decisions 
• How operational data on performance and degradation can improve warranties, repowering, and second-life planning 

The UK has set a precedent for LDES in Europe, with final details around the cap and floor scheme being released in September 2025, and the first projects expected to be approved by Spring 2026. With batteries dominating the space, no new ‘traditional’ LDES infrastructure has been built in the last four decades, owing to numerous barriers, including high upfront costs. This keynote will examine how the proposed cap and floor regime aims to confront this crucial issue and enable the expansion of LDES and transition to net-zero.

• The long-awaited cap and floor scheme, confirmed in March 2025, is expected to bring more revenue certainty to LDES projects in the UK, but what challenges might it also bring?  
• What does the industry think of the potential for investment and viability of the scheme as a long-term instrument?  
• Which technologies have a place in the scheme? 
• Is BESS a contender for long-duration energy storage? 

• With ESG considerations high on many investors’ list of criteria, how should the industry be evaluating and monetising the carbon benefit of energy storage?
• What does the prospect of 24/7 carbon-free energy mean for energy storage, and for future operations?
• What are the revenue and cost-saving implications and what has the industry seen so far?
• Insights from industry groups bringing together different stakeholder perspectives to tackle this issue

• With 4–6 GW of LDES required by 2030 in the UK’s CP2030 strategy, what technology options are available and what stage are they at? 
• LDES innovations in new battery chemistries such as iron flow or sodium ion batteries 
• Assessing new-age battery capabilities in the current investment landscape – efficiency, scalability and cost-effectiveness