Bee PV -MagazineThis week’s focus event at Intersolar Europe, moderated by ESS News editor Mariha Maisch, discussed the panel members co-location and financing, in addition to future-oriented presentations about market trends.
The integration of battery storage with solar energy was a central theme PV -MagazineThe Focus 2025 event, where speakers tackle the technical and financial considerations of co-locations. As batteries shift from grid support tools to asset-generating assets, developers are confronted with considerations regarding configuration, control and commercial strategy.
Storage growth and income hiases
Presentation: Anna Darmani, Main Analalist, Wood Mackenzie
According to Anna Darmani, Europe’s energy storage opbuilding has been accelerated. By 2034, the capacity could be more than 250 GW, with projects on Nuts scale that make up half, almost 10-time from today. This is partially powered by rising renewable penetration.
Darmani, however, noted that the income is still left behind. Only about 2% of the projects on utility scale in Europe operate under PPAS or toll contracts, despite their value in reducing trade risk. She expects this to change as the sector matures.
Fourteen EU countries now include energy storage goals in their 2030 plans, an increase of five in 2024, although goals vary between general and battery-specific goals.
Co-location, schedule access and EMS strategy
Panel: Anoucheh Bellefleur (Abo Energy), Roland Montenegro (Aurora Energy Research), Khalid Mannan (Jinko Ess)
The panel that followed was aimed at technical design choices for co-attracted projects. Bellefleur distinguished itself between co-located setups, in which solar energy and storage work separately, and hybrids, which share one inverter and work together. This distinction influences everything, from control systems to regulating treatment.
Montenegro explained that in Germany the adjustment of batteries on existing PV plants is common due to the limited schedule access. Adding storage to an existing connection can stimulate the site value and prevent disorders.
In a discussion, speakers agreed that AC versus DC coupling decisions depend on site specifications and income mix and arbitration or support services.
Bellefleur described batteries as fundamental commercial assets and offered solar support or self -containing income. Mannan emphasized the role of energy management systems (EMS), which suggests that optimizing EMS logic and the use of analyzes of third parties can significantly improve performance and availability.
A public member has raised a common obstacle: adding grid-loaded storage to a hybrid factory often requires a new connection. Bellefleur said that co-lured systems can have an advantage here, in which raster operators give priority to existing connections, which gives rise to discussions about the quandries with which DSOs and TSOs are confronted.
Local know -how, Global Supply
In a short presentation between panels, Iñigo Atutxa Lekue from Cegasa called for more European involvement in battery storage. Although battery cells are almost exclusively from China from China, he said, a large part of the value can be treated at system-level electronics, operating elements and O&M in Europe, along with a stronger local skills base.
Purchase of the battery storage and financing
Panel: Roberto Jiménez (BW Ess), Max von Hausen (Pexapark), Steffen Schülzchen (Entrix)
The last panel has dealt with the financing models for Bess. Jiménez said that Capex fell pleasantly for new batteries and that the bank’s appetite is growing, in particular where the income is partially contracted.
Von Hausen noted that even pension funds are now looking at storage, but warned that only certain banks have the expertise to endorse trader-risky projects, especially in Germany, where there is a reluctance with smaller, less international banks.
Etrix CEO Schülzchen said hardware is no longer the most important challenge. Optimizing project income, whether it is now the greater focus through power purchase agreements, toll or trader play. A mix of these models is expected to dominate in the future, because financing strategies diversify in addition to the market.
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