How the Netherlands became Europe’s benchmark for battery safety
Written by Dr. Koen Broess, at S4 Energy
As battery storage becomes critical infrastructure for Europe’s energy system, the Netherlands has quietly positioned itself as one of the continent’s leaders in battery safety regulation and deployment.
While many European countries are still developing regulatory frameworks for large-scale energy storage, the Dutch market already operates within one of Europe’s most mature safety ecosystems. For developers, investors and grid operators, that matters. Clear safety standards reduce uncertainty, accelerate permitting and create confidence in battery storage as a long-term infrastructure asset.
A key driver behind that position is PGS 37-1: the Netherlands’ comprehensive safety framework for lithium-ion battery energy storage systems.
The urgency for such a framework became clear several years ago, when incidents involving improperly stored lithium-ion batteries exposed the lack of clear operational standards in a rapidly growing market. Rather than slowing adoption, those lessons pushed the Dutch industry and government to professionalize battery safety faster than most other European markets.
Building Europe’s first practical battery safety framework
Around 2020, Dutch authorities and industry stakeholders launched the development of PGS 37-1. The initiative brought together fire departments, ministries and companies active in the battery storage market.
The challenge was significant. At the time, Europe had no widely adopted framework for battery storage safety. The main international reference point was the American UL9540A testing methodology, but this did not fully align with European operational realities and permitting structures.
The Dutch committee therefore had to develop much of the framework from scratch, covering everything from mobile battery systems used at construction sites to large-scale standalone energy storage projects connected to the grid.
One of the most important early decisions was the distinction between walk-in and non-walk-in container designs. International incidents had demonstrated the operational risks of walk-in battery containers, particularly for first responders and maintenance personnel during incidents.
The conclusion was clear: minimizing direct human exposure significantly improves safety. Non-walk-in systems quickly became the preferred design direction within the framework and are now widely seen as industry best practice.
From uncertainty to investor confidence
When PGS 37-1 was finalized, its impact on the Dutch battery market was immediate. For the first time, project developers, insurers and permitting authorities had a shared understanding of what constituted a safe battery system. Instead of fragmented interpretations and inconsistent local requirements, the market gained a single reference framework.
That clarity accelerated project development, improved permitting predictability and strengthened investor confidence in large-scale battery infrastructure projects.
Not every challenge disappeared overnight. Existing battery systems, many developed before formal regulations existed, cannot always fully comply with the new framework due to physical site limitations or legacy battery technologies that are no longer manufactured.
Mobile battery systems also remain a complex area, partly because they move between municipalities where local interpretation of regulations can still differ. In addition, some elements of PGS 37-1 only become legally enforceable once the guideline is formally embedded into Dutch law, currently expected around 2027.
A European head start
Despite these complexities, the Netherlands now holds a strong strategic position within Europe.
Battery systems have become substantially safer over the past five years, while the Dutch regulatory approach has created a level of certainty that many other European markets still lack. As the EU continues implementing the Battery Regulation and develops harmonized rules for energy storage, Dutch policymakers and industry experts are already actively helping shape that conversation.
That matters because battery storage is no longer a niche technology. It is rapidly becoming critical infrastructure for balancing electricity grids, enabling renewable energy integration and strengthening Europe’s energy independence.
Studies by TenneT consistently show that renewable energy combined with battery storage represents one of the most cost-effective pathways for Europe’s future energy system, even when large-scale grid investments are taken into account.
What began as a response to a rapidly growing market has evolved into a strategic advantage. The Netherlands has not only built one of Europe’s most advanced battery safety frameworks, but also created the conditions for scalable, reliable and investable battery infrastructure at a time when Europe urgently needs it.
