Italy sees surge in battery energy storage requests

Italy is experiencing a surge in demand for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to manage the volatility of renewable energy. According to data from Terna, connection requests for large-scale and very large-scale storage systems reached 300 GW by the end of 2025. However, only 56 GW have received final approval, with only 6.8 GW currently ready for operation. The existing installed capacity stands at 7.4 GW of power and 17.9 GWh of storage capacity.

Terna estimates a requirement of approximately 72 GWh by 2030, a figure expected to rise further in scenarios looking toward 2040. This massive volume of requests represents a significant long-term reservation for the future electricity system.

In Germany, the demand for battery storage is even more intense, with grid operators receiving 18,158 requests for large-scale storage systems in 2025 alone. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the need for faster investment and accelerated grid connections to develop storage capacity, noting that while Europe installed over 80 GW of new renewable capacity in 2025, six times that amount is still awaiting grid connection.