Analysis of profitability logic of energy storage industry

Is energy storage a profitable business model?

Although academic analysis finds that business models for energy storage are largely unprofitable, annual deployment of storage capacity is globally on the rise (IEA, 2020). One reason may be generous subsidy support and non-financial drivers like a first-mover advantage (Wood Mackenzie, 2019).

How do business models of energy storage work?

Building upon both strands of work, we propose to characterize business models of energy storage as the combination of an application of storage with the revenue stream earned from the operation and the market role of the investor.

Are business models for energy storage unprofitable or ambiguous?

The main finding is that examined business models for energy storage given in the set of technologies are largely found to be unprofitable or ambiguous.

Do investors underestimate the value of energy storage?

While energy storage is already being deployed to support grids across major power markets, new McKinsey analysis suggests investors often underestimate the value of energy storage in their business cases.

How many business models are there for energy storage technologies?

Figure 1 depicts 28 distinct business models for energy storage technologies that we identify based on the combination of the three parameters described above. Each business model, represented by a box in Fig- ure 1, applies storage to solve a particular problem and to generate a distinct revenue stream for a specific market role.

How does a storage technology affect a business model?

business model . First, the storage technology’s power capacity range must overlap with the ⤴햣 required power capacity range of the business model. In particular, the storage technology must capacity of the respective business model. At the same time, the technology’s minimal Our analysis focuses on a set of commercially available technologies.