Liquid-cooled battery energy storage systems provide better protection against thermal runaway than air-cooled systems. “If you have a thermal runaway of a cell, you’ve got this massive heat sink for the energy be sucked away into. The liquid is an extra layer of protection,” Bradshaw says.
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.
In reviewing 2021, LCP’s 2022 UK BESS Whitepaper uncovered a single over-arching theme: the start of the battery storage industry’s transition from solving power to solving energy. The long-held promise of utility-scale batteries was always energy storage, yet that was never their principal application.
Different countries have various schemes, like feed-in tariffs or grants, which can significantly impact the financial viability of battery storage projects. Market trends indicate a continuing decrease in the cost of battery storage, making it an increasingly viable option for both grid and off-grid applications.
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.
As per the Energy Storage Association, the average lifespan of a lithium-ion battery storage system can be around 10 to 15 years. The ROI is thus a long-term consideration, with break-even points varying greatly based on usage patterns, local energy prices, and available incentives.