This boom is no coincidence: by 2040, global installed battery capacity will grow by more than 2,380%, and thermal storage will grow by around 422%, reflecting the magnitude of a revolution sweeping through industry, mobility, and energy infrastructure.

In this context, regions with a solid industrial base, an advanced scientific ecosystem, and a clear strategy are positioning themselves as key players in this new energy economy. The Basque Country is precisely at this point of convergence: it has leading companies, renowned scientific centers, aligned institutions, and a shared vision that recognizes storage as a strategic opportunity for the future.

A globally expanding sector and the Basque Country´s commitment to it

The boom in energy storage is driven by a combination of factors: accelerated electrification, increased renewable energy presence, market volatility, and the need to manage more complex energy systems. Global demand for electrochemical storage for stationary applications will grow by more than 400% this decade, while the industry is adopting thermal solutions capable of operating at over 500°C to replace fossil fuels in processes that are difficult to electrify.

This dynamism shows that storage is already a critical component in the decarbonization of industrial sectors, buildings, and networks.

In addition to this quantitative growth, there is a decisive geopolitical dimension, as the regions leading the deployment of storage are managing to strengthen their energy independence, improve the resilience of their electricity systems, significantly reduce emissions, and integrate renewables on a large scale, while developing strategic value chains, promoting the circular economy, boosting competitiveness, and achieving significant economic savings for both industry and consumers.

This makes storage a technological vector that transcends energy and becomes a competitive advantage for countries.

The Basque Country has identified this opportunity and positioned energy storage as a strategic pillar of its production model. The region has three fundamental pillars that explain its advantageous position: a group of top-level companies active in advanced materials, components, power electronics, and energy solutions; a network of research centers and universities with internationally recognized capabilities in all phases of the value chain; and public institutions that strongly support the industrial and technological deployment of the sector.

This forms the basis for two major strategic frameworks promoted by the Basque Government. On the one hand, Itsasargiak, which places storage as a priority mission to accelerate decarbonization, strengthen energy autonomy, and promote applied innovation. On the other hand, the Industry 2030 Plan, aimed at consolidating advanced industrial capabilities, activating strategic alliances, and prioritizing transformative projects linked to critical energies for the future.

Both instruments pursue common and ambitious goals: strengthening Basque technological sovereignty, accelerating industrial electrification, positioning the region within the major European battery chains, attracting highly specialized talent, and promoting the arrival of high value-added investments.

Expected impacts for our region

The deployment of energy storage in the Basque Country will generate profound and lasting benefits for its economy and industry. First, it will enable progress towards accelerated decarbonization and more ambitious electrification of the industrial sectors that account for a large part of the region´s energy consumption. Electrochemical and thermal solutions will facilitate the integration of renewables into energy-intensive processes, significantly reduce emissions, and offer flexibility to manage peaks in demand or stabilize operations that require high-temperature heat. This ability to transform the energy base of Basque industry is one of the central pillars of the region´s energy transition.

In addition, storage will act as an economic driver and generator of quality employment. European demand will exceed 600 GWh of batteries in 2030, while the need for industrial thermal solutions to meet mandatory decarbonization targets will grow. Thanks to its technological infrastructure, scientific capacity, and diversified industrial fabric, the Basque Country is well positioned to capture a significant share of this market. This will strengthen the region´s leadership in sectors such as automotive, machine tools, electronics, energy, and chemicals, while opening up new opportunities for advanced manufacturing and specialized technological services.

Storage will also contribute to strengthening the Basque Country´s industrial diversification and technological autonomy. Developing proprietary solutions will reduce dependence on external materials, systems, and technologies, which will be particularly valuable in a context marked by geopolitical tensions and volatility in supply chains.

At the same time, the launch of new plants, testing platforms, gigafactories, and pilot projects will have a knock-on effect on SMEs and local suppliers, boosting activities in engineering, automation, components, power electronics, and digitization, and consolidating a more comprehensive and competitive industrial ecosystem.

Added to this is the attraction and development of specialized talent, a determining factor for the sustainable growth of the storage sector. The presence of centers such as CIC energiGUNE, which lead international projects and produce cutting-edge scientific knowledge, facilitates the arrival of qualified professionals and accelerates the training of new generations of specialists in materials, chemistry, electronics, energy systems, and thermal technologies.

Similarly, a solid ecosystem, institutionally aligned and backed by advanced scientific capabilities, makes the Basque Country an attractive destination for high value-added strategic investments, from new manufacturing lines to testing centers and prototyping infrastructures. Together, these elements reinforce the position of energy storage as a strategic lever for the industrial and economic future of the region.

In short, energy storage is shaping up to be an essential part of the energy transition, and the Basque Country has the industrial and scientific capabilities necessary to occupy a prominent position in its development.

As these technologies become more established, the region will be able to strengthen its competitiveness, advance decarbonization, and attract new investment, building a more robust and sustainable energy and industrial model.