European Market Research: Strong Growth in Battery Capacity; the Netherlands Leads the Way in Behind-the-Meter Storage

European battery capacity will reach nearly 500 GWh by 2030. LCPDelta estimates this in its annual European Market Monitor on Energy Storage Commissioned by Energy Storage Europe, the European trade association for energy storage of which Energy Storage NL is a member. In the study, the researchers examine a large number of European countries and distinguish between various storage technologies, including on-site and off-site storage, as well as stand-alone, co-located, and home batteries. The Netherlands is expected to see strong growth in these various segments of BESS storage.

The Netherlands Compared to Other EU Countries

Forecasts indicate that the Netherlands will account for a larger share of Europe’s BESS capacity by 2030. While this currently stands at 2.7 GWh according to the study, it is projected to grow to at least 35.6 GWh. This represents 13.5% of Europe’s total capacity. Furthermore, the duration of storage will shift from 2–3 hours to 3–4 hours. This implies that the Netherlands is among the frontrunners in the development of new BESS technologies.

When it comes to per-meter storage systems—such as large-scale standalone batteries—the Netherlands lags behind frontrunners like the United Kingdom, Italy, Bulgaria, Belgium, and Germany. Looking ahead to 2030, the United Kingdom and Italy will remain in the lead, followed by Germany, Poland, and Spain. By 2030, LCPDelta expects behind-the-meter capacity of 10–20 GWh in the Netherlands. The Netherlands does have clear potential in this area, but currently lacks the two most important European catalysts: a capacity market and other instruments that ensure revenue certainty, such as Italy’s MACSE or Poland’s storage subsidies.

In terms of installed capacity, the Netherlands leads the EU. With 1,050 MWh of new capacity in 2025, it ranks third, behind Italy and Germany. Looking toward 2030, the Netherlands is cited as one of the leading markets, with particularly strong growth in residential batteries and behind-the-meter batteries for businesses and industry. The phase-out of the net metering scheme in 2027 will drive strong growth in residential batteries in our country. This is expected to grow by 100,000 new systems per year, with a sharp peak in 2027. For businesses, a growth of 2–3 GW in capacity is also expected by 2030, with grid congestion as the main driver.

Implications for Dutch grid operators and policymakers

The Netherlands is among the countries with a very high share of wind and solar power relative to total generation capacity. This requires greater flexibility to ensure grid reliability and to offset negative price hours. The relatively greater reliance on wind also calls for more long-duration energy storage (LDES). Behind-the-meter storage appears to be well supported by market incentives such as grid congestion and the phasing out of net metering.

However, the Netherlands is also portrayed negatively in the study. It is cited as a case study for excessively high grid tariffs. Conclusion: these tariffs constitute a clear barrier to storage. LCPDelta sees potential in the TDTR contract as a solution, but it must become more widely available. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the Netherlands lacks the market instruments to provide the necessary revenue certainty for large-scale behind-the-meter storage. This requires a mechanism that includes a capacity mechanism and a specific incentive program such as Italy’s MASCE. The Netherlands is becoming a leader in the field of behind-the-meter storage; if it also wants to fulfill this role for large-scale storage on the grid, grid operators and policymakers will need to take action.