EU Energy Council signs first Europe-wide energy‑storage pact in Luxembourg

The European Energy Council, representing 22 EU member states, signed an agreement in Luxembourg that establishes the first continent‑wide framework for large‑scale energy storage. The pact is intended to facilitate the integration of renewable electricity into the overall economy and to help the EU meet its climate goals.

The deal targets storing only 15 % of the volume set for 2030 within the next two years, highlighting the slow pace of decarbonisation. Officials linked the urgency of the agreement to soaring energy prices caused by geopolitical tensions, including the fallout from the U.S. approach toward Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts warned that increasingly frequent heatwaves above 40 °C across Europe could lead to higher mortality and strain hospital systems, underscoring the need to end reliance on fossil fuels.