Profit analysis of energy storage industry chain

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 to evaluate the value-added capacity of energy storage industry?

Based on the "smiling curve" theory, we evaluate the value-added capacity of energy storage industry. Using the Principal Component Analysis method, we excavate the driving factors that affect value-added capabilities. Adopting the three-stage DEA-Malmquist index methods to analyze the efficiency differences of each link of the value chain.

What is the value chain of China's energy storage industry?

Based on the economic characteristics of various basic activities and their value-added contributions to different degrees in the whole value chain, this paper divides the value chain of China's energy storage industry into upstream, midstream and downstream.

What drives value-added efficiency of energy storage enterprises?

The main driving factors of value-added efficiency of energy storage enterprises in different links are quite different. Under the new development requirements, enterprises should actively seek value-added breakthroughs.

How to measure value-added efficiency of energy storage industry?

Therefore, the value-added efficiency of the energy storage industry is measured according to the input indicators, output indicators and external environment indicators that affect the value-added capacity in the above.

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.