Photo taken by Strategic Energy Europe at the Press Breakfast for the Opening of The smarter E Europe 2025, held on the first day of Intersolar Europe 2025.
Europe faces a structural challenge in scaling up energy storage to match the pace required by the energy transition. At the Press Breakfast for the Opening of The smarter E Europe 2025, held on the first day of Intersolar Europe 2025, leading figures in the renewable sector agreed: without a clear and urgent strategy, Europe will not meet its climate targets or ensure energy security.
The assessment was delivered at this opening event, attended by Strategic Energy Europe, where speakers emphasised the need to transform the energy system into one that is more flexible, digital and resilient. In this context, battery storage took centre stage.
Julian Jansen, Vice-President of the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE), warned that current growth is not enough: “The market may reach 400 GWh by 2030, but from our perspective, that is not sufficient to support a robust energy system.” According to the latest EASE report, at least 780 GWh will be needed by that date to accompany renewable deployment.
Storage is not just backup: it’s critical infrastructure
Jansen highlighted that the most significant progress is occurring in the front-of-the-meter segment, which grew 280% year-on-year in installed capacity. “This type of utility-scale storage is enabling new functionalities such as synthetic inertia, grid-forming capability and fast frequency regulation,” he noted. He stressed, “Grid stability is non-negotiable. Storage must be treated as structural infrastructure in our energy system.”
At the same time, battery storage has gained significant presence at Intersolar: this year, six to seven halls are dedicated exclusively to storage technologies, underscoring their central role in the future energy landscape. “Ten years ago, this would have been unthinkable,” organisers noted.
Michael Villa, Executive Director of smartEn, said that political action remains out of step with technological potential: “Given today’s geopolitical context, affordable energy and competitiveness must be priorities. But serious regulatory barriers still prevent scaling digital models within market-based frameworks.”
Regulatory hurdles also affect behind-the-meter storage, where, despite a slight slowdown, nearly 10 GWh were installed in 2024, particularly in the residential sector.
“We need at least a tenfold increase in current capacity by 2030,” Jansen insisted, adding that new rules are essential to integrate batteries as distributed energy resources.
Expansion underway: large-scale projects in 8 to 10 countries
The panel revealed that the industry has reached a turning point, with projects ranging from 100 to 200 MW already under development in at least eight to ten European countries. Concrete progress was reported in Germany, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Ireland and Poland, as well as in emerging markets in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. “This wasn’t the case three years ago. The momentum is real,” panellists emphasised.
Digitalisation as the cornerstone of the future system
Speakers agreed that digitalisation is essential for scaling up. “Operators still can’t predict electricity demand even two hours in advance. That’s unacceptable,” one expert stated, adding that digital intelligence will enable the grid to become an active energy management platform.
They also highlighted that value no longer lies solely in the battery cell. “Only 31% of a storage system’s value is in the cell. The rest lies in integration, control, software and services,” they explained. “That’s where Europe still has a competitive edge — and that’s where we must invest.”
The time is now: the market is ready
According to the event’s official report, utility-scale battery storage, PV + storage hybrid plants and smart energy management systems are now leading the transformation. As Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, stated: “Solar energy is local, affordable and clean — but now we need stronger grids, more flexibility, and full electrification. Storage is no longer optional.”
Data from the Fraunhofer Institute presented at the event showed that the cost of electricity from large-scale solar plants with storage ranges between €6 and €11/MWh, compared to up to €49/MWh for nuclear. “Climate-neutral electricity is on a clear path to success,” organisers affirmed.
A call to European leadership
EASE, smartEn, and SolarPower Europe delivered a unified message: Europe must adopt a continent-wide action plan for energy storage. “We already have the legislation — now we need implementation at a national level. We cannot miss this strategic window,” Jansen urged.
The bottom line was clear: storage is no longer a future solution — it is an immediate necessity to ensure energy security, support renewables, and maintain Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
About Intersolar Europe
Intersolar Europe is the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry, held annually at Messe München as part of The smarter E Europe. The event covers the entire solar value chain — from PV manufacturing to storage and smart integration. The 2025 edition features over 1,300 exhibitors, more than 100,000 visitors, and seven halls dedicated to battery storage, alongside multiple conferences focused on delivering reliable, renewable energy 24/7.
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