Do investors underestimate the value of energy storage?

While energy storage is already being deployed to support grids across major power markets, new McKinsey analysis suggests investors often underestimate the value of energy storage in their business cases.

How does energy storage affect investment in power generation?

Energy storage can affect investment in power generation by reducing the need for peaker plants and transmission and distribution upgrades, thereby lowering the overall cost of electricity generation and delivery.

Is energy storage the future of the power sector?

Energy storage has the potential to play a crucial role in the future of the power sector. However, significant research and development efforts are needed to improve storage technologies, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

What are the benefits of energy storage systems?

The deployment of energy storage systems (ESS) can also create new business opportunities, support economic growth, and enhance the competitiveness of the power market. There are several ESS used at a grid or local level such as pumped hydroelectric storage (PHES), passive thermal storage, and battery units [, , ].

How do I evaluate potential revenue streams from energy storage assets?

Evaluating potential revenue streams from flexible assets, such as energy storage systems, is not simple. Investors need to consider the various value pools available to a storage asset, including wholesale, grid services, and capacity markets, as well as the inherent volatility of the prices of each (see sidebar, “Glossary”).

Is there a tool for evaluating financial aspects of energy storage?

In addition to the aforementioned tools, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) introduced a tool for evaluating financial aspects and analyzing scenarios related to energy storage named STOREFAST. 2 Schmidt et al. (2019) studied anticipated LCOS technologies using the tool provided by storage-lab 3 .