Is battery storage a good investment?

The economics of battery storage is a complex and evolving field. The declining costs, combined with the potential for significant savings and favorable ROI, make battery storage an increasingly attractive option.

What is a battery energy storage system?

Electricity storage systems play a central role in this process. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions to compensate for the disadvantages of renewable energies. These systems stabilize the power grid by storing energy when demand is low and releasing it during peak times.

How has the cost of battery storage changed over the past decade?

The cost of battery storage systems has been declining significantly over the past decade. By the beginning of 2023 the price of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in energy storage, had fallen by about 89% since 2010.

Are battery storage systems a viable alternative to solar?

Steadily improving economic viability has, in turn, opened up new applications for battery storage. Like solar photovoltaic (PV) panels a decade earlier, battery electricity storage systems offer enormous deployment and cost-reduction potential, according to this study by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

How much does a lithium battery cost?

Lithium-ion battery prices have declined from USD 1 400 per kilowatt-hour in 2010 to less than USD 140 per kilowatt-hour in 2023, one of the fastest cost declines of any energy technology ever, as a result of progress in research and development and economies of scale in manufacturing.

Can battery storage be built in a few months?

To deliver this, battery storage deployment must continue to increase by an average of 25% per year to 2030, which will require action from policy makers and industry, taking advantage of the fact that battery storage can be built in a matter of months and in most locations.