BSW-Solar Warns of Obstacles to the Expansion of Large-Scale Storage Facilities

June 23, 2026

Source: E & M powernews

The market for battery storage is growing significantly. However, according to an analysis by Enervis, many planned large-scale storage projects could fail due to regulatory hurdles.

The expansion of battery storage in Germany accelerated significantly at the beginning of 2026. According to the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar), more than 2 million kWh of additional storage capacity was commissioned in the first quarter alone. The market for large-scale storage has shown particularly dynamic growth. There, new capacity rose by approximately 290 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching more than 1 million kWh of storage capacity.

At the same time, however, the solar industry sees significant risks to further expansion and is calling for policy measures to address them. The warning stems from a recent analysis by the management consulting firm Enervis, which the solar association cites. According to the analysis, under unfavorable regulatory and economic conditions, only about 15 million kWh of additional large-scale storage capacity could be realized by 2029.

Although additional projects with a capacity of about 58 million kWh are in the planning stages, their implementation is subject to considerable uncertainty. According to BSW-Solar, this means that only about one-fifth of the planned large-scale storage capacity is currently considered relatively secure.

Calls for Faster Grid Connection Procedures

The association points out that battery storage systems with a total capacity of around 30 million kWh are currently in operation in Germany. Of this, approximately 6 million kWh comes from large-scale storage systems.

According to BSW-Solar CEO Carsten Körnig, it will only become clear in the coming years whether the current storage boom will actually result in the capacities needed for the energy transition. This depends largely on the political and regulatory framework.
The association cites grid connection procedures as a key obstacle. These are often lengthy and vary among grid operators. A lack of standardization, differing technical requirements, and a low level of digitization have led to delays in numerous projects. While there is a willingness to invest, implementation often fails due to administrative hurdles.

BSW-Solar is therefore calling for the acceleration and standardization of grid connection procedures for battery storage systems. The solar association did not comment on the current controversy between E.ON and the storage lobby BVES regarding a standardization model proposed by E.ON’s distribution network companies (as we reported).

In addition, the so-called “multi-use” operation must be made easier from a regulatory standpoint so that storage systems can provide multiple services simultaneously. Furthermore, the association advocates for greater use of battery storage in redispatching and for managing grid bottlenecks, rather than curtailing renewable energy generation facilities. The process of connecting storage systems to existing grid connections at power plants as well as industrial and commercial sites must also be simplified.

Author: Fritz Wilhelm