Profitability of solar power generation with energy storage

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).

Are electricity storage technologies a viable investment option?

Although electricity storage technologies could provide useful flexibility to modern power systems with substantial shares of power generation from intermittent renewables, investment opportunities and their profitability have remained ambiguous.

How can energy storage be profitable?

Where a profitable application of energy storage requires saving of costs or deferral of investments, direct mechanisms, such as subsidies and rebates, will be effective. For applications dependent on price arbitrage, the existence and access to variable market prices are essential.

How much storage capacity should a new energy project have?

For instance, in Guangdong Province, new energy projects must configure energy storage with a capacity of at least 10% of the installed capacity, with a storage duration of 1 h . However, the selection of the appropriate storage capacity and commercial model is closely tied to the actual benefits of renewable energy power plants.