Slovakia seeks renewable power to secure automotive and battery industry investments

Industry representatives in Slovakia say that access to electricity generated from renewable sources is becoming a decisive factor for new automotive and battery‑manufacturing projects. The automotive sector and the emerging battery industry face EU climate commitments, carbon‑footprint labeling rules for batteries and demands from large car makers for greener supply chains. Associations such as SEVA, ZAP SR and SAPI urge the government to expand domestic renewable capacity and to use long‑term power‑purchase agreements (PPAs) so that firms can prove the green origin of their electricity and avoid relying on imported certificates.

Meanwhile, ZSE Energetické služby has commissioned a 20 MW/20 MWh battery energy storage system near Nižná and Veľké Kostoľany in western Slovakia. The installation, composed of ten 2 MWh container units and linked to a 110 kV grid node, can deliver up to 20 MW of power for about one hour, supporting the regional grid and potentially supplying the equivalent of 20,000 households during peak demand. The project illustrates the growing role of large‑scale storage in balancing the grid as the country expands its renewable electricity base.