C&I Storage Boom or Hype: Setting Expectations Right

Monday, June 22, 2026

Time: 02:15 pm - 03:15 pm
Hall: ICM München
Room: Room 13 A

Commercial and industrial (C&I) storage is among the fastest-growing markets in Europe in terms of annual year-on-year growth, yet in absolute installed capacity, it remains five times smaller than the residential segment. Still, it is attracting strong attention: utility-scale developers and residential providers are now targeting C&I as their next growth area. EV players are also entering the space by adding storage to charging infrastructure and exploring second-life battery applications.
This session explores whether future growth will create space for all players, the main business cases and technological solutions C&I developers are betting on, and the key markets most likely to shape the future of this segment.

02:15 pm - 02:20 pmWelcome and Introduction

Dr. Alexander Hirnet

Vice President Device Development

sonnen GmbH

02:20 pm - 02:30 pmBeyond the Boom: Scalable C&I Energy Storage Solutions for Diverse Application Scenarios

Luis Manuel Haya Carballo

Solution Engineer, EMEA

HyperStrong

02:30 pm - 02:40 pmC&I Storage: The Hype, the Challenges, and the Hard Truths

Julie Horn

Senior Strategy and Business Development

Virya Energy

02:40 pm - 02:50 pmSpeech Title to be Announced

Eleonora Potestio

Head of EU C&I Storage for Distribution

Sungrow Europe

02:50 pm - 03:00 pmSpeech Title to be Announced

Antonio Arruebo

Market Analyst

SolarPower Europe

03:00 pm - 03:15 pmPanel Discussion

To Program Overview

Europe’s Largest & Most International Exhibition for Batteries & Energy Storage Systems

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Speakers

Speaker

Antonio Arruebo, SolarPower Europe

Market Analyst

Belgium

Antonio Arruebo works as a Market Analyst at SolarPower Europe. He delivers high-quality market reports, briefs, and other products through the provision of data, research, and insights on the solar PV and battery storage markets, energy policy, and technological trends.

Speaker

Luis Manuel Haya Carballo, HyperStrong

Solution Engineer, EMEA

China

Luis Haya is a Solutions Engineer at HyperStrong, a global leading provider of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). With over 8 years of experience in renewable energy and large-scale projects, Luis plays a pivotal role in the development and integration of cutting-edge BESS solutions. At HyperStrong, he works closely with EPCs, IPPs and other stakeholders, using his deep technical expertise to accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy.

Speaker

Eleonora Potestio, Sungrow Europe

Head of EU C&I Storage for Distribution

Germany

Eleonora Potestio is a solar and energy storage professional with nearly a decade of experience across Europe's renewable energy sector. She currently serves as Head of EU C&I Storage for Distribution at Sungrow Europe, where she leads strategy and customer relationships. Before moving into the storage domain, Eleonora was Head of EU Distribution Product Management at Sungrow EMEA. In this role, she drove product launches for residential and C&I products, shaped the distribution portfolio strategy, and aligned technology development following market requirements. Previously, she was working as Solar Technical Consultant at Evergy Engineering GmbH and was responsible for full-scope technical due diligence reporting, technical controlling and site inspections for utility-scale solar projects with a focus in the Italian, British and Dutch market.

Speaker

Dr. Alexander Hirnet, sonnen GmbH

Vice President Device Development

Germany

Alexander has been leading sonnen's device development team in the position of Vice President Device Development since 2024. Between 2019 and 2014, he was responsible for sonnen's commercial and industrial storage development activities in the position of Vice President C&I. Prior to joining sonnen, Alexander was involved in setting up the stationary energy storage business unit at VARTA as Technical Director. He holds a diploma and a doctorate in physics.

Speaker

Julie Horn, Virya Energy

Senior Strategy and Business Development

Germany

Julie Horn is a Senior Strategy and Business Development professional at Virya Energy, specializing in renewable energy growth strategies. With deep expertise in solar, energy storage, EV charging, and smart energy management, she has led strategic initiatives, business development efforts, and innovative product roadmaps. She is also collaborating with the European Commission on innovation initiatives that support Europe's energy transition.