The US utility-scale storage sector saw tremendous growth over 2022 and 2023. The volume of energy storage installations in the United States in 2022 totaled 11,976 megawatt hours (MWh)—a figure surpassed in the first three quarters of 2023 when installations hit 13,518 MWh by cumulative volume.
Around 15 states have adopted some form of energy storage policy, including procurement targets, regulatory adaption, demonstration programs, financial incentives, and/or consumer protections. Several states have also required that utility resource plans include energy storage.
Principally, this means that a PTC-electing eligible energy production facility (such as a solar facility now eligible to elect to use the PTC after the IRA) may be paired with an energy storage facility without impacting the ability to claim an ITC for the storage facility.
Construction risks: It is common practice to see multiple equipment supply, construction, and installation contracts rather than one turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for energy storage projects.
Technology risks: While lithium-ion batteries remain the most widespread technology used in energy storage systems, these systems also use hydrogen, compressed air, and other battery technologies. The storage industry is also exploring new technologies capable of providing longer-duration storage to meet different market needs.
In the third quarter of 2023, and despite significant delays in the market, the US storage market added a record-setting 2,354 MW and 7,322 MWh.