Magazine Archive 05 – 2025

Support schemes new and old, coupled with an ability to participate in grid-strengthening “ancillary service” markets, will drive Italian energy storage. Interest is growing but the complexity of integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) into the grid should not be underestimated.

Spain had more than 1,100 hours of zero- or negatively-priced electricity in 2024: more than 45 days. Despite this, battery energy storage systems (BESS) remain rare, with grid operator Red Eléctrica España (REE) recording just 3.36 GW of grid-connected energy storage, 3.3 GW of which was pumped hydro. A new capacity market and other policy tweaks may be needed to hit ambitious deployment targets.

Greece has made great strides in solar power development and is now focusing on energy storage. Ilias Tsagas examines the opportunities emerging in various segments of the market.

France experienced a significant rise in negatively-price electricity hours in 2024, with the figure more than doubling to 359 hours, from 147 hours in 2023, according to data from grid operator RTE. The negative prices reflected the growing output of renewable energy, primarily solar power, during the day, and an electricity system struggling to adapt to the new reality. Hybrid and standalone batteries provide a promising solution to the declining value of solar energy while also helping to balance the grid, pv magazine France’s Gwénaëlle Deboutte reports.

On paper, Romania appears to be putting its faith in solar and energy storage. Analysts say the investment outlook is very positive, particularly for battery energy storage systems (BESS) but local companies want more long-term certainty from the government. With elections this month, and a change of administration expected, this stability is unlikely to materialize.

Solar energy development in Russia has long been sluggish, overshadowed by its fossil fuel economy. Western sanctions imposed after the Ukraine invasion have further hindered growth but improvements in efficiency and lower construction costs could help the industry take off.

Brazil faces a crucial choice over its electricity future, writes Markus Vlasits, president of the Brazilian association for energy storage solutions (ABSAE). Invest in an outdated, costly model built around thermal power plants or adopt a modern, flexible, and sustainable solution with battery energy storage systems (BESS). The decision is not just technical but strategic: Stay stuck in the past or lead the energy transition.

Islands are showing leadership in the transition to 100% renewable energy, proving it is technically and economically feasible. Among the first movers, Curaçao’s journey continues to accelerate. The path ahead for the Caribbean nation is being paved with strong stakeholder collaboration, targeted international advocacy, and new engagement initiatives designed to crowdsource cutting-edge solutions, write Gianni Chianetta and Francesco Luise of the Greening the Islands Foundation (GTI).

Airports landed on a list of areas suitable for renewable energy projects that was issued by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) in June 2024, meaning simplified authorization processes and lesser environmental protections. For the aviation industry, it’s a decarbonization opportunity worth taking.

Energy storage is the name of the game across many of Europe’s largest energy markets this year, as crowded grids become a bottleneck to new solar and wind installations. pv magazine met with Bernhard Suchland, CEO of project services provider Sunotec, for an update on large-scale solar and battery projects in Germany and Bulgaria.