EU energy storage power station investment

21.9 GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) was installed in Europe in 2024, marking the eleventh consecutive year of record breaking-installations, and bringing Europe's total battery fleet to 61.1 GWh. However, the annual growth rate slowed down to 15% in 2024, after three consecutive years of doubling newly added capacity.

ecomendationsHow can European policymakers help the battery storage sectorBattery storage systems are essential for strengthening the EU's energy security and competitiveness by enhancing flexibility, providing ancillary services to secure the grid, maximising the use of renewable energy, and effectively dealing with energy pr

In Europe, the capacity of renewable energy sources is growing very rapidly, while traditional power plants are slowly being decommissioned. That's creating a unique new opportunity for investors amid the emerging demand for battery storage, which provides balance to electricity markets.

It can also facilitate the electrification of different economic sectors, notably buildings and transport. The main energy storage method in the EU is by far 'pumped hydro' storage, but battery storage projects are rising. A variety of new technologies to store energy are also rapidly developing and becoming increasingly market-competitive.

Compared to classic renewables, energy storage has really only become an investable asset in Europe over the last few years on the back of technology advances, market price signals, and government support mechanisms.

However, despite an exponential growth in Europe's battery energy storage capacity, which reached 36 gigawatt-hours in 2023, pumped hydro still accounted for 90 percent of the electricity storage capacity in the European Union that year.