Big Wins for Battery Storage at the pv magazine Awards 2025

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) took center stage at the pv magazine Awards 2025, marking a defining moment for the global solar and storage industry. For the first time in the history of the awards, an energy storage project claimed the Projects category prize, underscoring how critical storage and flexibility have become to modern energy systems.

As grids across Europe and beyond grapple with volatility, congestion, and the rapid growth of renewables, storage solutions are no longer optional add-ons. They are becoming core infrastructure. This shift was clearly reflected in the jury’s decisions, with BESS innovations dominating both the Projects and BESS categories.

Energy Storage Takes the Spotlight

The 2025 awards arrived at a time when storage technologies are evolving rapidly, driven by the need for higher efficiency, better grid support, longer lifetimes, and improved sustainability. According to pv magazine, the BESS category once again attracted a large number of high-quality submissions, making it one of the most competitive areas of the awards.

Jurors evaluated entries not only on technical performance, but also on real-world impact. Key criteria included round-trip efficiency improvements, intelligent capacity utilization, degradation management, and the ability to deliver new grid services beyond simple energy shifting.

BESS Category Winner: Stabl Energy

The BESS category award was claimed by Stabl Energy, whose commercial and industrial (C&I) battery storage system stood out for its innovative use of second-life batteries combined with a novel modular multi-level converter (MMC) architecture.

Unlike conventional battery systems that connect multiple modules in series—where the weakest module limits overall performance—Stabl’s approach allows each battery module to operate independently. This design significantly improves efficiency, resilience, and usable capacity, while also extending the value of batteries beyond their first life.

By combining sustainability with high-performance power electronics, Stabl Energy demonstrated how next-generation C&I storage can reduce waste, lower costs, and deliver reliable performance in demanding commercial environments.

The jury also highly commended Noon Energy for its work on ultra-long-duration energy storage, highlighting growing interest in solutions capable of supporting grids over extended periods.

Projects Category Winner: Wärtsilä’s Blackhillock BESS

The Projects category award went to the Blackhillock BESS, developed by Wärtsilä Energy Storage in partnership with owner and operator Zenobē. The 200 MW / 400 MWh system represents a world first in grid-scale energy storage.

Blackhillock is the first battery energy storage facility globally to deliver both true synthetic inertia and short-circuit level support—two capabilities traditionally associated with conventional synchronous generators. These features enable the system to actively stabilize the grid, support fault levels, and improve resilience as fossil fuel-based power plants are phased out.

In a year when grid stability has become a central concern for transmission system operators, the Blackhillock project sets a new benchmark for what utility-scale BESS can achieve. It also signals a future where batteries play a direct role in maintaining grid strength, not just balancing supply and demand.

The jury also highly commended Apollo Energy Analytics for its performance and reliability optimization work in large-scale solar projects in the UAE, reflecting the growing importance of data-driven asset management.

A Clear Signal for the Future of Energy Storage

The outcomes of the pv magazine Awards 2025 send a clear message: energy storage has moved to the heart of the energy transition. From second-life C&I systems to grid-forming, inertia-providing utility-scale batteries, BESS technologies are rapidly redefining how solar and renewable energy integrate into power systems.

For developers, installers, and energy users alike, these innovations highlight the expanding role of storage—not just as a complement to solar PV, but as a critical enabler of resilient, flexible, and future-proof energy systems.

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