Times New Energy Storage Business

Is energy storage a good idea?

Major industrial companies consider storage a technology that could transform cars, turbines, and consumer electronics (see sidebar, “What is energy storage?”). Others, however, take a dimmer view, believing that storage will not be economical any time soon. That pessimism cannot be dismissed.

Can energy storage make money?

Energy storage can make money right now. Finding the opportunities requires digging into real-world data. Energy storage is a favorite technology of the future—for good reasons. What is energy storage? Energy storage absorbs and then releases power so it can be generated at one time and used at another.

Could stationary energy storage be the future?

Our research shows considerable near-term potential for stationary energy storage. One reason for this is that costs are falling and could be $200 per kilowatt-hour in 2020, half today’s price, and $160 per kilowatt-hour or less in 2025.

Are energy storage products more profitable?

The model found that one company’s products were more economic than the other’s in 86 percent of the sites because of the product’s ability to charge and discharge more quickly, with an average increased profitability of almost $25 per kilowatt-hour of energy storage installed per year.

Should energy storage be regulated?

In markets that do provide regulatory support, such as the PJM and California markets in the United States, energy storage is more likely to be adopted than in those that do not. In most markets, policies and incentives fail to optimize energy-storage deployment.

What will happen if storage costs fall?

As storage costs fall, ownership will broaden and many new business models will emerge. Many people see affordable storage as the missing link between intermittent renewable power, such as solar and wind, and 24/7 reliability.