Energy Storage Systems (ESS): The Key to the New Energy Transformation in Türkiye, Europe, and the World

Energy Storage Systems in Türkiye: A Strategic Investment for the New Era

Turkey has initiated a major transformation in the field of energy storage in recent years. Regulations implemented by EPİAŞ and EPDK have created the legal framework for electricity generation facilities with energy storage , paving the way for private sector investments.

Current state of energy storage in Türkiye.

• Storage-based solar and storage-based wind power projects are rapidly increasing in Türkiye.

• Energy storage capacity is expected to reach gigawatt levels by 2030.

• BESS solutions are becoming widespread in organized industrial zones, industrial facilities, and grid support projects.

• Türkiye aims to develop a strong industry for domestic battery production and equipment supply.

In terms of energy supply security, frequency control, and grid stability, battery storage plays a key role in Turkey's long-term energy planning.

Energy Storage in Europe: An Indispensable Building Block of the Net Zero Target

The European Union's goals under the Fit for 55 and Net Zero Industry Act have made energy storage one of the continent's most critical areas for technological investment.

Key storage trends in Europe.

• European energy storage capacity has shown record growth in the last 3 years.

• Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom are leading markets for both residential and grid-scale storage.

• Large-scale battery storage facilities integrated with offshore wind energy are becoming more common.

• The EU aims to increase its energy storage capacity by at least three times by 2030.

• The increasing penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) is strengthening the economies of scale in battery technologies.

Europe is placing BESS systems at the heart of its energy transition, particularly due to their importance for grid resilience, supply-demand balancing, and emergency backup capacity.

Energy Storage in the World: BESS - The New Standard for Global Energy Systems

Globally, investments in energy storage are rapidly increasing as a natural consequence of renewable energy growth. The rise in solar and wind installations has made storage an unavoidable necessity.

Global trends

• The US and China account for the majority of the world's energy storage capacity.

• Lithium-ion battery prices have fallen by over 80% in the last 10 years, which has accelerated BESS's investments.

• Next-generation technologies (LFP, NMC, sodium-ion batteries) are strengthening the cost-performance balance of storage.

• Grid-scale storage projects are becoming widespread in Japan, Australia, and South Korea.

• Energy storage systems are now used not only in electricity generation but also in areas such as electric vehicle charging stations , microgrids , and smart city projects .

By 2024–2025, a significant portion of every new solar power plant built worldwide is planned to be integrated with BESS (Bioelectrical Electrical and Electronics Supply System ).

The Future of Energy Storage: Hybrid Models, Smart Grids, and Next-Generation Battery Technologies

Three key trends stand out as shaping the future of energy storage systems:

1. Hybrid energy projects (Solar + Wind + Wind)

This model reduces investor risk by providing more stable and predictable energy production.

2. Long-Term Energy Storage (LDS)

Sodium-ion, flow battery, hydrogen storage, and heat storage technologies are rapidly advancing.

3. Smart grids and demand-side management

BESS systems are central to network operations such as peak demand management, load balancing, and frequency control.

In the future, energy storage will not only be a technology supporting renewable resources, but will become the backbone of the entire energy system .

Conclusion: Energy storage is at the heart of the future energy ecosystem.

Energy storage systems are critical for making renewable energy production sustainable, reliable, and economical. Turkey is poised to become a regional power in this field thanks to its regulations and investment appetite. Europe, meanwhile, positions energy storage as a key component of its Net Zero goals. Globally, BESS technologies are becoming increasingly widespread, cheaper, and smarter.

Energy storage is no longer just a technology — it's key to the global energy transition.