Europe Renewable-Plus-Battery Capacity to Quintuple by 2030

Europe's co-located renewable-plus-battery capacity is set to quintuple by 2030, according to a new report by Aurora Energy Research. The study forecasts that installations will surge from 6 gigawatts (GW) in 2025 to as much as 35 GW by the end of the decade, driven by supportive policies and falling battery costs.

The report analyzed 20 European markets for their attractiveness for co-location projects—where renewable energy generation is paired with battery storage. Germany, Great Britain, and Bulgaria emerged as the top three most attractive investment destinations. Germany's large market size and significant upside potential for investors make it the leading market, while Great Britain benefits from a mature power market and strong regulatory support. Bulgaria's attractiveness is underpinned by its renewable energy targets and grid integration needs.

For energy traders, the rapid growth of co-located renewable-plus-battery systems has important implications for power price dynamics. Increased battery storage can help smooth intermittent renewable output, reducing price volatility and lowering the risk of negative pricing during periods of high solar and wind generation. Traders can monitor real-time capacity additions and their impact on power markets using NowPrice's live energy dashboard. Looking ahead, key factors to watch include battery cost trends, regulatory changes in each country, and the pace of grid infrastructure upgrades to accommodate higher shares of variable renewables.