On December 10th, the European Commission released the latest version of the EU Grids Package, a policy update that sends a clear signal: Europe’s power grids are no longer a background topic, they are becoming a central pillar of the energy transition.

As electrification accelerates across transport, industry, and heating, grid constraints are increasingly shaping what can (and cannot) be deployed. In many cases, the challenge is no longer a lack of renewable energy generation, but a lack of flexibility to integrate it efficiently.

This is where distributed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) come into play.

From Generation Constraints to Flexibility Constraints

Across Europe, Distribution System Operators (DSOs) are facing growing pressure:

• Connection queues are lengthening
• Renewable curtailment is rising
• Grid reinforcement timelines are stretching over years

Yet much of this congestion is local and temporal. The grid may be constrained at specific hours or locations, not permanently undersized. Addressing these challenges requires tools that can react in real time, locally. Distributed BESS offers exactly that.

What Distributed BESS Enables at Distribution level

When deployed strategically, distributed battery storage can support the grid in several concrete ways:

• Relieving local congestion in real time. By absorbing excess generation or injecting power during peak demand, batteries help smooth local load profiles and reduce stress on constrained assets.
• Limiting renewable curtailment. Instead of wasting surplus solar or wind production during peak hours, energy can be stored and reinjected when the grid has available capacity.
• Improving connection timelines and certainty. By increasing local hosting capacity, distributed storage gives DSOs more flexibility to approve new connections without waiting for full grid reinforcements.

In practice, this can mean faster project development, lower system costs, and better use of existing infrastructure.

What the EU Grids Package Really Signals

The EU Grids Package does not promote individual technologies. Its focus is on grid planning, digitalization, and faster delivery. But the underlying logic is unmistakable: future grids will rely increasingly on flexible, distributed assets to operate efficiently.

As electrification continues and congestion becomes more frequent, DSOs will need to move beyond seeing flexibility as an optional add-on. Distributed storage will need to be treated as part of the grid itself — a system resource, not just a market asset.

Turning Grids From Constraint to Enabler

At Decade Energy, we see distributed BESS as a practical, near-term tool to help grids keep pace with electrification and decarbonization. Not everywhere all-at-once, but where it makes sense and where it delivers tangible system value.

If Europe wants faster connections, lower curtailment, and a more resilient power system, flexibility at the distribution level will be essential. Distributed BESS is one of the most effective ways to deliver it in France and beyond.

You can read the European Commission’s announcement, here.