„Growing battery storage and flexibility represents a fundamental shift from our current grid-centric view of the market. It impacts not only the way we plan infrastructure and the way we operate the system but also the markets we engage with. The new Electricity Market Design (EMD) legislation lays the groundwork for a more robust energy policy. We need to urgently implement these measures and call on the European Commission to report on the EMD implementation ahead of the first Energy Council in 2025”, said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.
In tandem with solar PV, growth was predominantly propelled by home batteries. In the wake of the energy crisis, European citizens turned to batteries to build their energy self-sufficiency. The residential segment led deployment with 70% of the annually installed BESS capacity, followed by large-scale battery systems at 21%, and commercial & industrial systems at 9%.
2023 marks the third consecutive year of doubling the annual market, with total battery storage capacity reaching 35.9 GWh by the end of 2023.
Germany maintained its position as the leading market, deploying 5.9 GWh last year and marking a significant increase of 152%. Italy closely followed, connecting a record-breaking 3.7 GWh (+86%), trailed by the United Kingdom with 2.7 GWh (+91%).
Looking forward, BESS markets will maintain their upward trajectory between 2025 and 2028, with sustained, but slower, growth rates in the 30-40% range.
The overall installed BESS capacity in Europe is projected to expand more than sevenfold to reach 260 GWh of battery storage by 2028.
