Why is energy storage growing so fast in Europe?

The fleet of energy storage projects in Europe, including both pumped hydro and battery energy storage systems of all sizes, is expanding rapidly. This growth is set to continue at a strong pace through 2030, fueled by technological advancements, supportive policies, and other key factors.

Why is energy storage important in the EU?

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.

How many energy storage projects are there in Europe?

The European Energy Storage Inventory provides impressive figures on the current state of energy storage capacities in Europe. According to the platform, 905 projects with a total output of 66 gigawatts are currently in operation.

What is the European energy storage inventory?

In March 2025, the Commission launched the European Energy Storage Inventory, a real-time dashboard that displays energy storage levels across different European countries. It is the first European-level tool of its kind and offers energy storage data across a full range of technologies.

What is the largest energy storage project in Europe?

Particularly noteworthy is the ambitious project in Alfeld (Lower Saxony), which is considered the largest approved storage project in Europe with a performance of 137.5 megawatts and a storage capacity of 275 megawatt hours.

What are Europe's next-generation storage technologies?

Research institutions across Europe are developing next-generation storage technologies, including advanced flow batteries, compressed air energy storage, and hydrogen-based systems.