Do European and American photovoltaics all have energy storage

In a country-by-country comparison, Germany is still the European leader for both photovoltaics and residential storage systems. Installation figures for 2020 indicate that the German market accounts for around 70% of the total installed capacity in the European residential storage system market, making it a force that cannot be overlooked.

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.

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.

The growing installed capacity of photovoltaic installations is considered one important driving factor behind this trend. Systems ranging from 10 to 15 kW as well as from 15 to 20 kW in particular have seen a steep increase since the EEG amendment in early 2021, with the number of installed storage systems growing in parallel.

Overall, total energy storage in Europe is expected to increase to about 375 gigawatts by 2050, from 15 gigawatts last year, according to BloombergNEF. We spoke with Grebien about electricity market trends, energy storage technologies, as well as the investment and financing opportunities emerging from these technologies.