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Why Europe needs long duration energy storage to secure its energy future
Enlit Editorial Team
Posted on: 11 March 2026
Long-duration energy storage is emerging as a critical piece of Europe’s energy transition. In this conversation, Hydrostor outlines why clearer policy signals, robust system modelling and long-term revenue certainty are essential to unlocking large-scale deployment.
In a video interview, Oonagh O’Grady, Vice President of International Origination at Hydrostor, highlights the growing role of long-duration energy storage in supporting Europe’s transition to a more resilient, renewable-powered grid.
As renewable deployment accelerates, O’Grady notes that flexibility requirements across European power systems are expected to double by 2030 and continue rising sharply by mid-century.
She explains how Hydrostor’s advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) technology can store surplus renewable energy for extended periods and release it when demand rises, helping reduce curtailment, strengthen grid resilience and limit reliance on new gas infrastructure.
“Long-duration energy storage is a strategic imperative for Europe’s energy future. Without it, the region risks higher system costs, reduced resilience and missing its climate targets,” says O’Grady.
Watch the full interview to hear O’Grady outline the actions needed to unlock long-duration energy storage and build a more resilient European power system.
*This interview was filmed in November 2025 at Enlit Europe in Bilbao, Spain.
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