Global energy storage targets for 2030 have nearly tripled since the adoption of the COP29 Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge, reaching 822 GW. However, the combined national commitments remain approximately 45% below the 1,500 GW target established under the international agreement, according to a new analysis by energy think tank Ember.
The report highlights a significant increase in global energy storage ambitions, with the combined 2030 targets of 99 countries and the European Union rising by 190%, or approximately 2.9 times, compared with levels assessed during COP29. Despite this progress, national commitments remain below both the global pledge and BloombergNEF’s market forecast, which projects approximately 1,200 GW of battery storage deployment alone by 2030.
According to Ember, the increase in storage targets has been driven predominantly by China and the European Union, while most other countries have maintained their existing commitments or have yet to establish dedicated energy storage targets.
China has emerged as the largest contributor to the increase in global storage ambitions. Under its 15th Five-Year Plan, the country raised its 2030 energy storage target by 330 GW, from 130 GW to 460 GW. The revised target covers new-type energy storage technologies, primarily batteries, alongside pumped hydro storage.
Meanwhile, the European Union established its first bloc-wide energy storage target in June 2026, setting a goal of 200 GW by 2030. Together, China and the EU now account for more than 80% of the combined national storage targets worldwide.
Dr Katye Altieri, Global Program Consultant at Ember, noted that the increase in global storage ambition has been concentrated in these two major economies. She emphasised that several leading solar markets have yet to establish storage targets, potentially limiting investment certainty and long-term market development.
The analysis also indicates that actual energy storage deployment is advancing considerably faster than national policy commitments. Annual battery storage additions have increased by nearly 80% per year since 2020, significantly exceeding the growth rate required to achieve the COP29 pledge.
Global energy storage installations reached a record 118 GW in 2025. Ember estimates that maintaining this annual deployment rate through 2030 would be sufficient to meet the current combined national targets, highlighting the gap between market activity and government policy ambitions.
The report further identifies a strong relationship between solar power expansion and energy storage commitments. Countries with ambitious solar capacity targets generally demonstrate stronger energy storage ambitions, although several major solar markets remain exceptions.
Among the world’s 20 largest solar markets, eight countries have not established specific energy storage targets for 2030. These include the United States, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, despite their ongoing investments in large-scale battery storage infrastructure.
The United States has already installed approximately 52 GW of utility-scale battery storage capacity, while Saudi Arabia has recently connected what Ember describes as the world’s largest single battery storage project. However, other markets, including Poland, Austria, Switzerland, and Brazil, continue to lag in both storage target-setting and deployment.
Ember emphasised that rapid market growth does not eliminate the importance of national storage targets. While battery storage projects are progressing in several major economies, deployment remains concentrated in a limited number of markets. Clear national targets can help address regulatory barriers, improve investment confidence, support grid planning, and strengthen coordination between renewable energy development and energy storage infrastructure.
The analysis also connects the importance of storage expansion with upcoming international electrification commitments. Ahead of COP31, Türkiye’s presidency is promoting the proposed 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, which aims to increase electricity’s share of final energy demand from approximately 20% to 35% by 2035.
According to Ember, achieving these electrification objectives will require substantial investment in renewable electricity generation, modernised transmission and distribution networks, and sufficient energy storage capacity to manage rising electricity demand.
The findings underscore the growing importance of battery energy storage systems and other flexibility technologies in supporting global renewable energy integration, improving electricity grid reliability, and accelerating the transition toward low-carbon energy systems.
While energy storage deployment continues to accelerate worldwide, Ember’s assessment indicates that stronger and more geographically diversified national commitments will be necessary to align government policies with the COP29 target of 1,500 GW by 2030.
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