Now, not only those in the photovoltaic industry, but also those in the lithium battery and power equipment sectors are keeping a close eye on energy storage . Just past the third quarter of 2025 , two signals have shaken the industry: first, domestic installed capacity of new energy storage has exceeded 100 million kilowatts, accounting for over 40% of the global market ; second, the growth rate of energy storage battery shipments has far surpassed that of automotive power batteries. Even more exciting is that industry leaders like Sungrow Power have declared a minimum global growth rate of 40% over the next few years , aiming for a market size of 1.2 trillion yuan by 2030 .

Today, we'll use industry insiders to break down the underlying logic of the energy storage boom: Why is 2025 considered a turning point? What concrete data supports the growth rate and scale? How should different players seize opportunities? Whether you're an investor, business owner, or industry professional, after reading this, you'll be able to grasp the pulse of this trillion-dollar industry.

I. The core logic of the outbreak:

1.  Achieving economic viability: From " optional " to " mandatory ".

Previously, energy storage projects were mostly developed to obtain supporting quotas for new energy projects, relying on subsidies to recoup costs. After 2025 , even without subsidies, many projects will be able to achieve profitability.

• Domestic market: Industrial and commercial energy storage relies on peak-valley price differences and ancillary services, and many projects can achieve an IRR (internal rate of return) of 8%-12% , which is higher than the average return of photovoltaic power plants; grid-side energy storage relies on peak-shaving compensation and capacity leasing, and the payback period is stable at 8-10 years.

• Overseas markets : Even more impressive returns. In Europe, residential energy storage, relying on electricity price arbitrage and backup power demand, can achieve an IRR of over 15% ; in Texas, USA, due to grid instability, energy storage projects can also earn " extreme weather premiums , " with some projects earning over 1 yuan per kilowatt-hour last year .

• Emerging markets : The Middle East and Southeast Asia have also caught up – the Middle East relies on high electricity prices and the demand for new energy infrastructure, while Southeast Asia relies on the gap in grid upgrades. Energy storage projects are already ready for commercial implementation.

Simply put, before 2025 , energy storage was something " inevitable " ; after 2025 , it will be something " profitable " to install . This shift has directly ignited market enthusiasm.

2.  Upgraded Status: The " Core Pillar " of the New Power System

If economic viability is the " engine , " then industry standing is the " passport . " Previously, energy storage was a " supporting brother " to new energy sources ; now it has evolved into a " core pillar " of the new power system— without energy storage, new energy sources cannot be stably connected to the grid.

To give a very intuitive example: the installed capacity of wind and solar power in China has exceeded 40% , but wind and solar power are unstable power sources that are " dependent on the weather . " Solar power generates a lot of electricity at noon, but there is a power shortage at night when there is no sunshine. At this time, energy storage is necessary to " smooth out the peak and fill the valley " : the excess electricity is stored at noon and then released at night so that the power grid can operate stably.

The National Energy Administration's plan has long clearly stated that by 2030 , new energy storage capacity should match more than 20% of new energy capacity . Currently, new energy is still growing rapidly, and the energy storage gap will only widen. This is a rigid demand, not something optional.

II. Let the data speak for itself:

1.  Short-term growth rate: Domestic new installed capacity to reach 200GWh by 2026.

• Global Market: Growth rate is expected to remain at 40%-50% in 2026 , which is the " minimum growth rate . " If overseas demand exceeds expectations, it may be even higher.

• Domestic market : New installed capacity is expected to be approximately 130 GWh in 2025 , and surge to 150-200 GWh in 2026 , representing a nearly 50% increase in one year ;

• European market : Growth rate is expected to remain stable at around 50% over the next three years , mainly driven by demand for residential energy storage and grid upgrades.

Even more telling is the surge in overseas orders — in the first half of 2025, overseas orders for domestic energy storage companies skyrocketed by 246% year -on-year, with Europe, the Middle East, and Australia becoming the three major growth markets. Previously, we were mainly " domestic consumers , " but now overseas markets have become the " engine of growth , " directly doubling the market size.

2.  Long-term scale:

• Industry data forecast : From 2025 to 2030 , the energy storage industry will maintain a high growth rate of over 40% , which is significantly higher than the 20%-30% growth rate of photovoltaics.

• Market size : The global energy storage market size will exceed 1.2 trillion yuan by 2030 , becoming a " trillion-yuan track " alongside photovoltaics and power batteries ;

• Market segmentation : The three core segments of energy storage batteries, PCS (energy storage converters), and system integration will each give rise to companies with assets worth hundreds of billions.

Some may ask: " The photovoltaic market is already worth trillions, can energy storage surpass it? " In fact, the growth rate of photovoltaics has slowed down, while energy storage has just entered a " high-speed growth period , " just like photovoltaics in 2015 and power batteries in 2020. It is highly likely that it will " overtake " in the next 5 years .

III. Three major driving factors: essential demand + incremental growth, it's hard not to see a surge.

1.  The urgent need for peak shaving by renewable energy sources: The gap is huge and must be filled.

As mentioned earlier, the higher the proportion of wind and solar installed capacity, the more rigid the demand for energy storage becomes. Currently, China's installed wind and solar capacity exceeds 1.2 billion kilowatts, but the corresponding installed energy storage capacity is only 100 million kilowatts, leaving a gap of at least 100-200 million kilowatts.

The situation is even more pronounced overseas: Europe aims to achieve a 42% renewable energy share by 2030 , but its grid's peak-shaving capacity is severely insufficient. Germany and Spain have already introduced " mandatory energy storage policies . " After a major power outage last year due to extreme weather, Texas in the United States explicitly requires that new energy projects must be equipped with more than 20% energy storage. This " essential demand gap " is the foundation for the growth of energy storage.

2.  Power Grid Upgrades + Extreme Weather: Explosive Growth in New Demand

• Aging power grids : Many power grids in Europe and the United States are still decades old equipment, which cannot support a large amount of new energy and electricity loads. They must rely on energy storage for " flexible regulation " . For example, California plans to invest $ 10 billion in energy storage and power grid support over the next 5 years .

• Extreme Weather : Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent globally. Last year, torrential rains in Henan and Guangdong provinces in China, and droughts in Europe, both led to power grid outages. As a " backup power source , " energy storage is seeing a surge in demand, both for residential and commercial use – the projected 60% increase in European residential energy storage sales by 2025 is the best proof of this.

3. AI Data Centers: A New Variable Amidst Exponential Growth

This is the most easily overlooked " incremental bomb "—the power consumption of large AI models and data centers has reached a " terrifying " level.

A leading domestic internet company's AI data center consumes over 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually per unit , operating 24/7 , requiring extremely high power stability. To prevent data loss due to power outages, these data centers must be equipped with high - efficiency, long-life energy storage.

IV. How should different roles seize opportunities?

1.  Investors: Focus on three core sub-sectors

• Energy storage batteries: Choose companies with overseas certifications (such as European CE and American UL ) and large customer resources. Companies with a high proportion of overseas orders are more resistant to risks.

• PCS : This is the " heart " of the energy storage system . The technological barriers are higher than those of batteries. Domestic companies are competitive globally, and the leading companies have a market share of over 30% .

• Overseas system integration : There is a large demand for integration in Europe and the Middle East, but local companies are weak in this area. Domestic integrators with overseas channels can earn " price difference + service fee " .

2.  Enterprises: Focus on both overseas expansion and technology development, adopting a two-pronged approach.

Whether it's a battery manufacturer or an equipment manufacturer, they must avoid the " domestic price war " and focus on two key areas:

• Go global! Go global! Go global! Profits in Europe and the Middle East are more than 30% higher than in China , and demand is stable. Get certifications and build channels now;

• Technological Upgrade : Stop making low-end energy storage products with " low rate and short life " and focus on developing products with " long cycle ( more than 15,000 times) and high rate " to meet high-end needs such as AI data centers and grid peak shaving.

3.  For practitioners: Choosing the right niche can save you 3 years of wasted time.

• Overseas market positions : Those who are proficient in foreign languages ​​and understand electricity market rules are currently in high demand , with salaries 50% higher than in China ;

• System Integration Engineer: Must understand batteries, PCS , and grid connection, and be able to design overall solutions; companies are eager to hire them.

• Operation and maintenance services: With the increasing number of energy storage projects, the demand for operation and maintenance will explode, and there is a great shortage of technicians who understand remote monitoring and troubleshooting.

Finally, to be honest:

Many people worry that " will energy storage be like other industries, hot for two years and then cool down? " But this time it's different — the demand for energy storage is " rigid ." The three trends of new energy transformation, grid upgrading, and AI development will not change for at least 10 years, and will only intensify.

2025 will be the " coming of age " for energy storage , a year of transition from " relying on policy " to " relying on the market , " and from " auxiliary " to " core . " Entering the market now is like entering the photovoltaic industry in 2015 and the power battery industry in 2020 —it's about stepping onto the " starting point of industry explosion . "