New EU Battery Regulations are Reshaping Battery Energy Storage Systems Projects

“Battery storage has quickly moved from a supporting technology to a central industry focus,” explains Steven. “Storage is now a major industry focus. In fact, I recently attended the SolarPower Summit, organized by SolarPower Europe, and around 90% of the focus was on battery storage and its importance.”

The growing importance of battery storage was also reflected in wider industry discussions at the summit. Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, highlighted the role of solar and battery technologies in strengthening Europe’s energy resilience:

“Solar and batteries are delivering for Europe's economy and security. Since the beginning of the Middle East war, solar has saved the EU over €8 billion in avoided fossil fuel costs.”

As renewable energy generation increases, grid flexibility becomes more important. Battery systems help store excess renewable energy and release it back into the grid when demand rises or generation drops.

“Battery storage accelerates the energy transition by enabling more renewable energy to connect to the grid,” Steven explains. “Stored energy can be fed back into the grid when renewable generation decreases, while battery systems also help stabilize voltage and frequency fluctuations.”

As battery storage expands across residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-scale applications, ensuring reliability, safety, and regulatory compliance is becoming increasingly complex.

As battery storage deployment increases, so do industry concerns around safety, compliance, and fire risk. This is where Kiwa supports developers, operators, project owners, and investors through independent technical expertise, compliance verification, and quality assurance services.

“Fire safety is one of the biggest concerns in the industry,” highlights Steven. “Internal short circuits can lead to thermal runaway and fires, making compliant system layouts, fire suppression systems, container spacing, and emergency access planning increasingly important.”

Kiwa helps customers verify that BESS comply with relevant safety standards and industry requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

“Standards such as UL 9540 and UL 9540A are increasingly shaping global expectations around fire testing and thermal runaway assessment for BESS,” Steven explains. “At Kiwa, we help customers verify compliance with these requirements throughout the project lifecycle.”

We also help customers prepare for complex regulatory requirements, including the EU Battery Regulation and the Battery Passport.

“From 2027 onwards, battery passports will become mandatory for systems entering the European Union,” says Steven. “The Battery Passport will digitally track information related to manufacturing processes, sustainability performance, second-life applications, recycled content, and end-of-life management throughout the battery lifecycle.”

The EU Battery Regulation also introduces requirements around sustainability disclosures, carbon footprint reporting, recycled content, due diligence, and digital traceability across the battery value chain. 

For companies involved in battery manufacturing, importing, financing, or operation, these requirements may create additional technical and administrative obligations. Preparing early will therefore be critical to reducing compliance risks and avoiding delays.

“Kiwa also supports companies through digital solutions that help enable secure Battery Passport data management and regulatory readiness,” Steven adds.

For investors and developers, performance risk is now just as important as regulatory compliance. Poor cell quality, manufacturing defects, or accelerated degradation can create serious operational and financial consequences.

“That creates both operational and financial risks,” Steven explains. “If the system underperforms, it affects revenues, loan repayments, and contractual obligations.”

“We always advise our clients not to rely solely on manufacturer datasheets,” says Steven. “Independent technical expertise is essential.”

This is why we support our customers throughout the project lifecycle, from technical due diligence and procurement support to factory audits, construction inspections, and site acceptance testing.

As BESS projects grow in scale and complexity, independent technical verification is becoming increasingly important.

At Kiwa, we help developers, operators, project owners, and investors reduce technical, compliance, and performance risks throughout the battery project lifecycle.

Whether you are developing, financing, importing, or operating BESS, we help reduce risk, improve bankability, verify compliance, and prepare for evolving regulations through technical due diligence, supplier evaluation, safety verification, construction inspections, and site acceptance testing.

At Kiwa PI Berlin AG, we support BESS projects through:

• Technical due diligence
• Procurement and supplier evaluation
• Factory audits and inspections
• Safety and compliance verification
• Construction inspections
• Site acceptance testing
• Quality assurance across the lab, factory, and field.

Across the renewable energy sector, Kiwa PI Berlin AG has evaluated and assured more than 100 GW of PV projects globally and conducted over 900 factory audits worldwide. 

Learn how Kiwa helps Battery Energy Storage Systems projects reduce compliance, safety, and performance risks. You can also explore Kiwa’s Battery Passport solutions and regulatory readiness support.