By the reckoning of the International Energy Agency (iea), a forecaster, grid-scale storage is now the fastest-growing of all the energy technologies. In 2025, some 80 gigawatts (gw) of new grid-scale energy storage will be added globally, an eight-fold increase from 2021. Grid-scale energy storage is on the rise thanks to four potent forces.
China is likely to be the main winner from the increased use of grid-scale battery energy storage. Chinese battery companies BYD, CATL and EVE Energy are the three largest producers of energy storage batteries, especially the cheaper LFP batteries.
Grid-scale battery storage is a mature and fast-growing industry with demand reaching 123 gigawatt-hours last year. There are a total of 5,000 installations across the world. In the first quarter of 2024, more than 200 grid-scale projects entered operation, according to Rho Motion, with the largest a 1.3GWh project in Saudi Arabia.
Energy storage technologies can provide a range of services to help integrate solar and wind, from storing electricity for use in evenings, to providing grid-stability services.
A typical solar battery might set you back around £4,500 (crikey that’s a few quid!). However, my friends, it's not all bad news. A 2019 study by the Energy Saving Trust pointed this out: households using storage batteries tend to use 30% more of their solar energy. Translation: fewer grid-energy pounds flying out from your pocket.
This study shows that battery electricity storage systems offer enormous deployment and cost-reduction potential. By 2030, total installed costs could fall between 50% and 60% (and battery cell costs by even more), driven by optimisation of manufacturing facilities, combined with better combinations and reduced use of materials.