The German legal framework for BESS projects is currently also in a process of changes: The German parliament adopted a comprehensive energy reform package on 31 January 2025, which includes relevant changes for BESS projects with the aim to further support the growth of storage capacities in Germany.
According to preliminary numbers from the German Solar Industry Association (BSW Solar), there were 1.8 billion installed battery storage systems in Germany at the end of last year. They had a capacity 19 gigawatt hours (GWh), enough to cover the daily electricity consumption of two million two-person households.
How many battery storage systems were installed in Germany in 2024?
Almost 600,000 new stationary battery storage systems were installed across Germany in 2024, increasing the country's storage capacity by 50 percent year-on-year, according to preliminary data from the German Solar Industry Association (BSW Solar).
How do large battery storage systems support the energy transition in Germany?
Large battery storage systems support the energy transition in Germany, as they store electricity from renewable energy sources and make it more efficiently usable. This increases the share of green electricity in gross consumption and reduces the likelihood of having to resort to emergency power from fossil fuels during peak demand periods.
If only half of these projects were approved, they would store enough energy to power 30 million German households for one day. Battery storage is needed to supplement the country's rapid rollout of renewable energy installations, which reached a new record share in electricity production of 55 percent in 2024.
What happened to battery energy storage in Germany last year?
Last year, the number of newly installed residential battery energy storage systems in Germany fell slightly. In contrast, the capacity of large-scale storage systems with a power output of more than 1 MW doubled within a year. From ESS News
Sandra is News Director of pv magazine Deutschland. She has been reporting on solar since 2008. Data Protection Policy Last year, the number of newly installed residential battery energy storage systems in Germany fell slightly. In contrast, the capacity of large-scale storage systems with a power output of more than 1 MW doubled within a year.