How Europe’s storage map changed in 2025
A couple of years ago, the UK dominated European BESS activity. By 2025, the picture looks very different: storage has spread across nearly every region in Europe.
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Germany emerged as the standout market, with its grid-connection queue for battery storage surpassing 500 GW. Grid-connection approvals have already reportedly been granted for about 78 GW of storage, making Germany a key market to watch in 2026.
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Italy launched its first MACSE (Mercato a Termine degli Stoccaggi) auction to contract 50 GWh of storage by 2030. The inaugural round awarded 10 GWh at record-low prices of roughly €37,000/MWh per year, signalling strong competition and appetite for long-term contracts.
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Spain, after a major blackout, continued to build the foundations for large-scale storage to reinforce grid resilience and security of supply.
In Central and Eastern Europe, momentum accelerated:
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Poland allocated subsidies for around 172 storage projects scheduled by end-2028, totalling roughly 3.9 GW / 14.5 GWh – a major boost for its rapidly expanding fleet.
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Romania ramped up utility-scale deployments.
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Hungary introduced a residential battery subsidy programme to support PV households.
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Regulatory changes in the Czech Republic unlocked significant potential for utility-scale BESS.
After desynchronising from the Russian grid, the Baltic states also saw strong storage activity, using batteries to stabilise their systems and integrate more renewables. Overall, 2025 showed that energy storage truly reached every corner of Europe, laying the groundwork for an even more dynamic 2026.
BasenPower commentary: reading Europe’s new storage geography
For BasenPower, Europe’s 2025 storage boom sends several clear signals to developers, installers, and investors:
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Germany and Italy define the utility-scale benchmark
Germany’s immense connection queue and Italy’s MACSE auction both point towards large, contracted BESS portfolios as the new normal. For partners, that means focusing on bankable system designs, strong grid-compliance, and clear performance guarantees. -
Subsidies and tenders create “anchor markets” in CEE
Programmes in Poland, Hungary and other countries show that well-designed tenders and subsidies can unlock storage where merchant economics alone would be too weak. These markets are ideal for partners who can provide cost-effective, standardised solutions that meet tender requirements. -
Hybrid and resilience use cases will multiply
Spain’s focus on resilience and the Baltics’ post-desynchronisation strategies highlight a growing class of projects where reliability and grid support are as important as arbitrage. System architectures that combine fast response, strong EMS, and flexible operating modes will gain an edge.
BasenPower sees Europe in 2025–2026 as a multi-speed opportunity: mature markets (Germany, Italy, Spain) set the technical and commercial standards, while CEE and the Baltics offer room for fast growth with the right partners and standardised product platforms.