‘Huge potential’ for Europe’s residential battery storage market as Germany spearheads growth

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image: Tesla.

Europe’s residential battery energy storage systems (BESS) market is expected to continue its upward trajectory in the coming years after 745MWh of additional capacity was installed in 2019, representing a 57% increase year-on-year. 

That's according to new analysis from trade body SolarPower Europe, which says total installed capacity reached almost 2GWh at the end of 2019 and revealed that a “significant untapped market potential” exists as only 7% of European residential PV is coupled with battery storage.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

While COVID-19 is expected to take its toll on the market in 2020, with year-on-year growth forecast at 9%, this impact is less than previously thought due to the resilience of the German market.

With almost 500MWh installed and a 66% market share, Germany is by far the leading European market for residential BESS. In 2019, the country installed 63,000 residential battery storage systems with a total capacity of around 496MWh.

In total, Europe’s top five countries – Germany, Italy, the UK, Austria, Switzerland – amount to over 90% of the European market.

Michael Schmela, executive advisor at SolarPower Europe, said efforts are now needed to expand the momentum from the pioneering markets across the continent. “With European Green Deal instruments, such as Next Generation EU, and national recovery plans, there is a big toolbox available to continue this growth trajectory.”

Despite the slowdown in growth this year, the deployment of home storage will accelerate again in 2021. According to SolarPower Europe’s most-likely medium scenario, yearly growth rate is expected to be in the two-digit range again at 14% in 2021, boosted by recovery packages, then slowing down to an 11% growth rate in 2022, before moving up to 13% in 2023 and 16% in 2024.

This scenario expects that the 1GWh storage capacity addition threshold should be reached in 2022, corresponding to approximately 140,000 new systems installed per year.

The analysis says in a 100% renewable energy system, electricity storage becomes crucial in providing an uninterrupted energy supply, backing up to 24% of European electricity demand. “In order to achieve this, distributed BESS installed capacity need to surge to 900GWh by 2030 and 1,600GWh by 2050, an immense growth from the level installed today, said Raffaele Rossi, coordinator of SolarPower Europe’s Solar & Storage Workstream.

“European and national policymakers should recognise this huge potential and promote distributed storage in their energy and climate plans.”

Read Next

June 6, 2025
Eternal Sun has acquired German solar simulator provider Wavelabs, which has resulted in the formation of a new subsidy, Wavelabs Eternal Sun.
Premium
June 6, 2025
Europe must secure the 'strategic segments' of the solar supply chain, according to experts at a PV Tech panel at this year's Intersolar event.
June 2, 2025
A new manufacturing method has produced tandem perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells with a conversion efficiency of 27.8%.
Premium
June 2, 2025
Struggling Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger has announced that its two German subsidiaries, including the owner of its solar cell manufacturing facility in Thalheim, are insolvent.
May 29, 2025
The German government is seeking 2.2GW of ground-mounted solar capacity in the most recent round of its public renewable energy tender scheme.
May 28, 2025
The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia has launched a Federal Council initiative to accelerate the development of floating solar (FPV) on artificial lakes.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece