Technical Analysis
Storage up 41 per cent whilst solar power slows: 158 GW by 2026
📅 September 2026
⏱ Reading time: 6 minutes
PVclick Strategy Team
Operational and commercial analysis for the Italian PV sector
What you will find in this article
- Why energy storage is currently the only rapidly growing segment of the photovoltaic sector
- The real driving force behind the boom: the slump in LFP cell prices
- A map of the five Italian regions where batteries are currently being deployed
- How to translate these figures into stock management decisions and concrete commercial action
The figure: accumulation is the only one that is accelerating
The long-term trajectory is even clearer: BNEF estimates that by the end of 2036, cumulative capacity will reach around 2,867 GW / 10,514 GWh, almost ten times the levels seen in 2025. In a market where module margins are shrinking and generation installations are slowing down, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are the part of the bill that continues to rise.
📊 Key figures to bear in mind::
158 GW / 459 GWh of storage capacity forecast worldwide in 2026, up 41 per cent on 2025. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries now account for over 90 per cent of new installations. If you work in the solar power sector and do not have a structured storage offering, you are leaving out of your quotation the segment that is growing faster than any other.
The hidden driver: the collapse of LFP cells
This boom is not a market fad; it has a specific cause: the price of cells has fallen to levels that make storage cost-effective where it previously was not. LFP chemistry, which is cheaper and safer, now dominates almost all new installations, and product formats have become standardised: 5 MWh containers in 20-foot ISO shipping containers have become the de facto standard for large-scale installations, with cells of 300 Ah and above.
For you, as a buyer and reseller, this has two practical implications. Firstly: the cost per kilowatt-hour of storage is now lower than ever before, so the return on investment for a commercial or industrial (C&I) customer is finally credible without having to stretch the figures. The second: those who invest in storage now are capitalising on rising demand; those who wait will end up buying when volumes drive prices up and delivery times lengthen. It is the same window of opportunity that the Italian tax authorities are keeping open, as we explain in our analysis of the 2026 hyper-depreciation scheme: for eligible assets, inverters and storage systems can be sourced from any qualified supplier, and the cost-effectiveness of direct imports remains intact.
The map of Italy: 720 MW across five regions
This global trend is already having a very tangible local impact. Through six decrees dated 10 July 2026, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) has given the go-ahead for 720 MW of standalone storage facilities, i.e. batteries not linked to a generation plant, spread across five regions. The authorised projects are, as detailed by ESS News:
| Region | Project | Potenza |
|---|---|---|
| Basilicata | Field, Melfi | 200 MW |
| Veneto | ACL Energy, Arcole and San Bonifacio | 136 MW |
| Puglia | Lightsource BP, Galatina 2 (Galatina and Aradeo) | 100 MW |
| Tuscany | Sphera Energy, Manciano Tafone A | 100 MW |
| Tuscany | Sphera Energy, Manciano Tafone B | 100 MW |
| Molise | Osco Agri Solare, Rotello | 84 MW |
These 720 MW are being made available ahead of the MACSE (Electricity Storage Capacity Procurement Mechanism) auctions, the mechanism through which Terna will put out to tender the storage capacity required to stabilise the grid. And this is no isolated case: according to QualEnergia.it, MASE is currently assessing over 55 GW of BESS projects. The flow of authorisations is now continuous, month after month.
What does this mean for you (even if you don’t build the 200 MW Melfi plant)?
1. Major projects aren’t your job, but they are your guiding principle
Let’s make this clear straight away: utility-scale plants of 100–200 MW go to major developers such as Lightsource BP or Field, not to the installer or the distributor. But where authorised capacity is concentrated, so too is everything that revolves around it: connections, cabling, Balance of System (BOS) components (the set of switchboards, cables, protection devices and accessories that complete the plant, in addition to batteries and inverters), and skilled labour. If you operate in Puglia, Basilicata, Veneto, Molise or Tuscany, these regions are telling you where the energy storage supply chain is heating up first.
2. The true addressable market is the commercial and industrial (C&I) and residential sectors
3. Consider the system architecture: battery and storage inverter
Selling storage systems is not the same as selling modules. The system consists of cells, a storage inverter (PCS, Power Conversion System – the converter that manages charging and discharging) and management software, and the compatibility between these components determines the system’s performance and warranty. Before expanding your stock, it is advisable to fully understand the architecture: in our guide to BESS systems explains how the components fit together and what to check before quoting for a supply.
The PVclick solution: the ready-to-import storage range
This is the advantage of working with a procurement partner rather than a simple reseller. PVclick shortens the supply chain by purchasing directly from Tier 1 manufacturers’ factories, and this is even more important for storage than for modules: it is cell prices that fluctuate the most, and those who buy at source reap the full benefit of the LFP price slump. The Italian team supports you in choosing the right systems for every project size, from residential batteries to commercial BESS, and in managing transport and customs clearance.
With the Factory Connect service, you get factory-direct pricing on volumes where cost-effectiveness makes all the difference; with the All Inclusive package, you delegate customs, transport and paperwork, leaving you to focus solely on the installation site. In both cases, the logic is the same: build a structured storage portfolio whilst the market is accelerating, rather than chasing suppliers when delivery times get longer. This applies to both wholesale kits and made-to-order supplies.
The 3 moves to make right now
Firstly, set up a storage line in your catalogue if you don’t already have one: this is the segment that BNEF forecasts will grow by 41 per cent this year whilst the rest slows down, and it is where profit margins are shifting. Secondly, focus your sales efforts on the key regions – Puglia, Basilicata, Veneto, Molise and Tuscany – where authorised capacity indicates upcoming demand for grid connections, cabling and C&I systems. Thirdly, buy directly from the source whilst cell prices are low: direct imports for storage protect margins today and secure deliveries when volumes cause lead times to lengthen.
Solar generation is slowing, but the market has not shrunk: its centre of gravity has shifted towards storage. Success goes to those who read the figures and shift their stock to where demand is heading, whilst those who stick with modules are chasing profit margins that are shrinking quarter on quarter.
Do you want to build up your customer base before your competitors do?
