Large-scale battery energy storage is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Europe’s energy transition. But turning a promising business case into a project that actually gets built is far from straightforward.

In the first episode of the Dispatch Podcast series, host Sven Pluut (Zonhub) sits down with Denis Van Melkebeke and Oliver Schieb to discuss the realities of developing battery energy storage (BESS) projects in Germany and Belgium.

From navigating complex permitting processes to securing grid connections in increasingly constrained networks, the episode explores the many moving parts involved in bringing storage projects from concept to operation.

The discussion also touches on the evolving regulatory landscape, the surge in battery project applications across Europe, and why coordination between developers, grid operators, municipalities, and investors is essential for projects to move forward.