The mood at this year’s Intersolar Europe was clear: battery storage is no longer the future - it’s the main stage. While solar technology remains foundational, the real innovation, growth, and market energy were centered around energy storage systems.
At PowerEdge, we took the opportunity to identify the most important developments shaping the battery storage industry today. Here are five key trends we believe will define the coming years.
Once dominated by panel manufacturers, Intersolar is now visibly shifting. In 2025, batteries occupied a significant portion of the floor space, reflecting a broader market pivot. PV-only solutions are being replaced by integrated storage-ready systems. Exhibitors ranging from traditional solar companies to new battery players are all placing energy storage at the center of their offering.
Why it matters:
Customers are no longer satisfied with energy production - they want control, optimization, and independence. Batteries make that possible.
Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) continues to dominate the stationary storage market. At the cell level, we’re seeing a clear trend toward larger prismatic formats (280Ah, 306Ah, 314Ah and beyond), offering higher energy density and cost efficiency.
Why it matters:
Larger cell formats mean smaller system footprints, lower system costs, and easier scalability - especially for commercial installations.
While still behind lithium in maturity and cost competitiveness, sodium-ion batteries are beginning to enter industrial production. Asian manufacturers are leading the charge, with early deployments in small EV and niche stationary applications. We see already cylindrical and Pouch cells, but some exhibitors presented roadmaps targeting prismatic sodium cells by 2026–2027.
Why it matters:
Sodium offers a promising alternative for applications where cost, safety, or environmental concerns outweigh ultra-high energy density. It’s also a strategic hedge against lithium supply constraints.
A strong theme across many discussions was the geopolitical risk embedded in battery supply chains. With 80–90% of cell manufacturing still concentrated in Asia, many European customers are asking deeper questions about sourcing, integration, and long-term resilience.
Why it matters:
Procurement is evolving. Beyond price and performance, businesses want to know:
PowerEdge takes a technology-agnostic but integration-first approach to ensure performance, transparency, and flexibility.
It’s no longer enough to offer batteries as black-box hardware. The most forward-looking providers are embedding software, EMS, trading capabilities, and advanced controls into their offering - and those who don’t will struggle to stay competitive.
Why it matters:
Storage is becoming an active part of energy management. Systems must interact with PV, EV charging, the building itself, and potentially the grid or market. Without this integration, the business case weakens.
Intersolar 2025 confirmed what many of us already suspected: the battery market is evolving rapidly - and the winners will be those who think beyond technology and toward total solutions. At PowerEdge, we partner with commercial and industrial clients to design and implement tailored battery storage concepts that are scalable, resilient, and future-proof.
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Anssi Laitinen : Jun 10, 2025 11:09:47 AM
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Anssi Laitinen : Jul 4, 2025 11:16:18 AM
For years, lithium-ion has been the undisputed backbone of the global BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) and electric vehicle markets, its...
