Stationary batteries key to the facilities of the future

In this context, stationary storage is gaining relevance as a support to manage growing demand, strengthen operational continuity and provide flexibility in an increasingly energy-intensive infrastructure.

Data centres are consolidating themselves as one of the new sources of electricity demand in Europe. According to a report published by ENTSO-E in May 2026, the consumption associated with these facilities will grow by more than 50% between 2025 and 2030, reaching 134 TWh. The same report already identifies more than 10,500 data centres of at least 50 kW in Europe and a total computing power of 12.7 GW, reflecting the weight that these infrastructures have acquired in the European energy system.

This boom is being driven by a genuine wave of data centre projects, with announcements of new campuses and expansions in virtually every region, from established hubs such as Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt to emerging clusters in northern Spain, the Nordic countries and Eastern Europe. In Spain, for example, the pipeline of announced data centre investments already exceeds €90 billion, while France is emerging as one of Europe’s main growth hubs, with a project pipeline surpassing 10 GW of planned capacity.

However, the growth of data centres is not driven solely by the number of facilities, but also by the increasing scale of digital demand. The expansion of artificial intelligence, the growth of cloud services and the concentration of capacity in large-scale data centres are all driving up both overall electricity consumption and the energy intensity of these infrastructures. ENTSO-E also highlights that the challenge is not only how much energy data centres consume, but how quickly that demand can fluctuate in specific locations, placing additional pressure on power grids already affected by electrification and the integration of renewable energy sources.

In this scenario, energy storage is beginning to occupy a more visible place within the infrastructure of data centers. Its role is related to several functions: electrical backup, peak load management, improved operational continuity and greater flexibility in the relationship with the grid. Added to this is the interest in solutions that help to keep pace with digital growth, security of supply and energy efficiency objectives.

The market associated with these applications also shows a growth trajectory. According to Global Market Insights, the European data center energy storage market grew from $584.9 million in 2024 to a forecast of $1.2 billion in 2034. This evolution reflects increased investments in backup systems and solutions designed to respond to environments where power availability and operational stability are critical factors.

Beyond the market data, the rise of data centres is part of a broader debate for the European energy sector, which revolves around how to meet new high-volume electricity demands without transferring all the pressure to the grid. In this context, storage is increasingly linked to industrial applications and critical infrastructures, along with other already consolidated uses in renewables, the grid and self-consumption. Data centers thus join the list of sectors that are expanding the field of application of stationary storage in Europe.

A key event for a key sector

The energy needs of data centres will be one of the topics to be addressed at Battery & Energy Storage Tech Europe. Organised by Fira de Barcelona, this show will be held in Barcelona on 8 and 9 September 2026 to reflect on the challenges of energy storage and learn about its latest developments.

The event, which will bring together more than 100 companies and fifty experts and relevant figures in this industry, was created with the aim of boosting business, discovering opportunities and analysing the main challenges in a strategic area to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable energy model and promote the transformation of European industry.