The prompt and consistent implementation of variable renewable energy sources (RES), particularly photovoltaic systems (PVs), presents significant obstacles for contemporary electricity infrastructures. With significant attention in recent years, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are perceived a potential solution to address the emerging technical obstacles. They are becoming more and more popular, especially when it comes to hybrid PV-BESS installations, which offer a number of advantages to end customers who are residential and non-residential. The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive overview of BESS-related topics, with an emphasis on the end-user sector's hybrid installation applications, innovations, and research trends. To this purpose, a clear summary of battery energy storage is given, with a focus on its role as a distributed energy resource. Additionally, a thorough explanation of hybrid PV-BESS systems, including their potential configurations and advantages, is presented. Furthermore, there is a lot of discussion on the beneficial impact of BESS on the integration of controllable RES.