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SEB’s Sustainable Finance Outlook: Surge in battery production key to promote European energy independence

The latest issue of SEB’s Sustainable Finance Outlook focuses on the key role that battery energy storage plays in overcoming Europe’s energy challenges. It highlights how surging battery deployment is building a more reliable, affordable and secure European energy system. The report also underscores that the rapid buildout of energy storage needs to go hand in hand with greater investments in grid infrastructure.  

“Global investment in clean energy is hitting new record highs, and the faster transition is driven by its security and affordability” says Thomas Thygesen, Head of Strategy and ESG in SEB Equity Research at SEB. “The focus is increasingly on upgrading the entire energy system rather than just producing electricity, so storage and grids are coming into focus as long-term growth segments too.” 

“As renewable deployment accelerates, driving greater variability, intermittency, and price volatility, Europe’s battery energy storage market is projected to grow rapidly” says Gregor Vulturius, Lead Scientist and Senior Advisor in Climate & Sustainable Finance at SEB. “Utility-scale batteries will add 550GWh in capacity over the coming ten years in Europe, requiring at least EUR 55bn in investments.” 

The report also features an update on the sustainable finance market and how it has funded energy storage.www.sebgroup.com 

“10 months of 2025, the sustainable finance market recorded USD 1.85tn in new transactions, a marginal 2% YOY decline.” says Samantha Arpas, Sustainable Finance Specialist at SEB. “Venture capital has been a key force in driving battery development in innovation globally, amounting to EUR 22bn since 2022 with shifts in technology and sustainability demands rapidly changing investment trends.” 

About the Sustainable Finance Outlook  

The Sustainable Finance Outlook delivers insights and market intelligence for navigating the sustainability transition. Issued four times per year, the report engages a readership exceeding 3000, comprising financial institutions, corporates, and decision-makers within SEB's primary markets.  

For more information, contact:
Gregor Vukturius, Lead Scientist and Senior Advisor in Climate & Sustainable Finance
+46 70 739 2016
gregor.vulturius@seb.se

Press contact:
Petter Brunnberg, Head of Media Relations & External Communication
+46 70 763 5166
petter.brunnberg@seb.se

SEB is a leading northern European financial services group with international reach. We exist to positively shape the future with responsible advice and capital, today and for generations to come. By partnering with our customers, we want to be a leading catalyst in the transition to a more sustainable world. In Sweden and the Baltic countries, SEB offers financial advice and a wide range of financial services. In Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom, we have a strong focus on corporate and investment banking based on a full-service offering to corporate and institutional clients. The international nature of SEB's business is reflected in our presence in more than 20 countries worldwide, with around 19,000 employees. At 30 September 2025, the Group's total assets amounted to SEK 4,033bn while assets under management totalled SEK 2,820bn. Read more about SEB at sebgroup.com.

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