Europe’s BESS park expands to 61GWh despite slower growth

May 15, 2025: A total of 22GWh of battery energy storage systems was installed in Europe in 2024, marking the 11th consecutive year of record breaking-installations, according to new analysis.
The increase in the BESS park lifted Europe’s total battery fleet expand to more than 61GWh, said trade body SolarPower Europe in its European Market Outlook for Battery Storage report released on May 7.
However, the annual growth rate slowed down to 15% in 2024, after three consecutive years of doubling newly added capacity.
Meanwhile, the BESS market in Europe is set to grow faster in the coming years, although not at the levels required, the report said.
In the most-likely scenario for 2025, 29.7GWh of battery storage will be installed in Europe, representing a 36% annual growth.
By 2029, the report anticipates a six-fold increase to nearly 120GWh, driving total capacity to 400GWh — including a combined 334GWh for the 27 states that comprise the European Union (EU-27). But this this remains far below the levels required to meet flexibility needs in a renewable-driven energy system.
According to SolarPower Europe’s Mission Solar 2040 study, EU-27 BESS capacity must reach 780GWh by 2030 to fully support the transition.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, said now was the time for Europe’s political leaders to put batteries at the centre of a flexible, electrified, energy system.
“We urge the European Commission to double-down on their efforts here and come forward with an EU Energy Storage Action Plan as part of a broader energy system flexibility package.”
Hemetsberger said the recent electricity outage across Spain and Portugal was a stark reminder of why this was important.
Earlier this year, European leaders were urged to embrace an ecosystem of battery technologies including advanced lead batteries.
Carl Telford, research and innovation director at the Consortium for Battery Innovation, said in a speech at the European Parliament that decision-makers should value what exists in Europe and help companies to invest, grow and thrive.