Developers in the US plan to install 15GW of new utility-scale battery storage, adding to about 16GW of storage installed so far, according to government statistics.
The US utility-scale battery storage sector achieved its highest-ever annual deployments in 2022, a year in which solar PV and wind underperformed against expectations.
Users of US solar price comparison site EnergySage are increasingly drawn towards battery storage through concerns around having enough power in emergency situations, with 70% of users now requesting storage with their solar quotes.
The US’ installed battery storage capacity reached 1,650MW by the end of 2020, but the country is on track to have nearly 10 times that amount by 2024, according to the national Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Nearly 12,000MWh of energy storage could be installed in the US during 2021 and the market will continue growing significantly over the next few years, according to research and analysis group Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables.
The US’ installations of advanced energy storage — almost entirely lithium-ion battery systems — went beyond the 1GW mark in 2020, while in capacity terms the figure was close to 3.5GWh.
Combining energy storage with generation helps to unlock the core value of batteries and other storage, the US Energy Storage Association (ESA) has said, while data is now available on the status of installed and proposed utility-scale hybrid power plant projects throughout the country.
Coal retirements, liberalised energy markets and declining costs continue to improve the business case for energy storage in Australia, but the coronavirus pandemic is among factors creating uncertainties and risks, new research has found.
This article looks at the current status of each of these end-markets and where there are similarities and differences in how the markets have developed, along with future opportunities.
