According to recent data from the Union Española Fotovoltaica (UNEF), the capacity of energy storage in Spanish households and businesses has reached almost 1.9 gigawatts per hour (GWh), which is a significant increase compared to the previous year. However, this growth was much slower than expected due to various factors, including the decline in energy prices and the lack of government support for renewable energy projects. Despite this, the residential sector remains a major player in the installation of battery systems, with a participation rate of 77% in 2023, according to UNEF data.
The slowdown in growth can be attributed to several reasons, including the high cost of battery systems and competition from other sources of renewable energy. Moreover, some householders have started using their excess solar energy for their own consumption instead of selling it back to the grid, as they can save money on electricity bills this way. This trend is expected to continue in the future as more people adopt green technologies for their homes and businesses.
In contrast, Germany has made significant progress in implementing battery storage systems for its households and businesses. According to recent data from German employers’ associations, over 150,000 households have installed solar panels on their roofs and also have a battery system associated with them. In just one year (2022), Germany added as many batteries as Spain did in two years (2022-2023). This rapid expansion has reduced demand for electricity from the grid during peak hours.
The decline in demand for electricity from the grid is also an incentive for householders with solar panels to install battery systems that can store excess energy generated during daylight hours for use at night when electricity rates are higher. Recent studies show that consumers who generate their own electricity through solar panels and store it in batteries are willing to pay more than those who sell their excess energy back to the grid at lower rates during off-peak hours. Therefore, investing in battery systems can be financially beneficial for homeowners who rely heavily on solar power generation.