EAEST Deputy Secretary General Addresses The Battery Show Asia 2026 on European Market Readiness and Cross-Border Cooperation
The European Association of Energy Storage Trade (EAEST) is pleased to announce that its Deputy Secretary General, Rob van der Gulik, participated as a keynote speaker and panel delegate at The Battery Show Asia 2026, held in Hong Kong on 10 March 2026. The event brought together senior representatives from leading global organisations including CALSTART (USA), SP Group, Chery Group, Volkswagen PowerCo, Hyundai Motor Company, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL), and Morgan Stanley.
Keynote Address at the Main Forum: Innovation x Convergence
Rob van der Gulik delivered a keynote address at the event’s Main Forum, which focused on global energy and electric mobility policy trends, the electrification strategies of leading automotive manufacturers, and the development of energy infrastructure. His presentation, titled “From Rules to Reality: How Europe Is Building a Bankable Energy Storage Market”, offered a comprehensive assessment of the structural conditions that define success in the European energy storage sector.
Mr. van der Gulik identified three widely held misconceptions that continue to impede market entry for overseas companies. First, that Europe operates as a price-driven market — in reality, it functions as a system market in which regulatory compliance, financial structuring, and long-term institutional credibility are the primary determinants of success. Second, that CE certification constitutes sufficient market access — while necessary, certification must be accompanied by full compliance with battery regulations, national grid codes, cybersecurity obligations, and defined legal responsibility. Third, that technology quality alone generates project opportunities — European financial institutions evaluate project structure, risk allocation, and the track record of responsible parties over multi-decade horizons, rather than technical specifications in isolation.
The keynote further highlighted that Europe’s energy transition has entered a new phase. As the penetration of wind and solar generation increases, grid volatility is rising, negative pricing events are becoming more frequent, and grid congestion is emerging as a structural challenge. In this context, energy storage is transitioning from a supporting technology to core power system infrastructure. Mr. van der Gulik emphasised that only through participation in real, fully structured projects can companies achieve recognition from banks, qualification as trusted EPC partners, and credibility with institutional investors.
Mr. van der Gulik concluded with a direct message to Asian companies considering European expansion: Europe does not offer rapid returns, but it does offer stable, scalable, and sustainable long-term growth for those who invest in compliance, full project cycle participation, and institutional credibility.
High-Level Fireside Dialogue: IPO, M&A, and Chinese Enterprise Globalisation
In addition to his keynote, Mr. van der Gulik participated in a high-level fireside dialogue session, which examined IPO and merger and acquisition trends within the battery and energy sector, as well as the international expansion strategies of Chinese enterprises. The session formed part of the forum’s broader agenda on industry consolidation and cross-border investment.
Participation in the “Zhejiang Goes Global” International Procurement Matchmaking Event
Also on 10 March 2026, Mr. van der Gulik represented EAEST at the “Zhejiang Goes Global” International Procurement Matchmaking Conference, co-organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Zhejiang Provincial Committee and Informa. The event convened more than 30 industry enterprises — including Tianneng, Rept Battero, Wanxiang A123, and Yunshan Power — alongside over 200 international buyers, facilitating in-depth dialogue on product requirements, commercial cooperation, and market development.
At the matchmaking session, Mr. van der Gulik presented a selection of EAEST-supported European projects that have reached Ready-to-Build (RTB) status, including standalone battery energy storage system developments in Romania and a portfolio of solar-plus-storage projects in Poland, among others. These projects are positioned to accommodate Chinese enterprise participation through equipment supply, EPC cooperation, or equity participation at the SPV level.
EAEST’s role in this context is to serve as a bridge platform: identifying mature and bankable European projects suited to the capabilities of high-quality Chinese enterprises; facilitating project documentation and due diligence processes; supporting investment and financing structure design; and assisting with commercial negotiations and local coordination. The Association’s objective is to move beyond transactional equipment export toward a model of co-development, co-investment, shared ownership, and shared returns.
About EAEST
The European Association of Energy Storage Trade (EAEST) is a Netherlands-based industry association dedicated to advancing the development of the European energy storage market. EAEST works to connect industry stakeholders with regulators, supports standards and compliance alignment, and facilitates the formation of transparent and investable market structures across Europe.
Media Enquiries
For further information, please contact the EAEST Communications Office.
