Energy storage in the financial industry

Why is energy storage important?

Continued expansion of intermittent renewable energy, ESG-focused investments, the growing versatility of storage technologies to provide grid and customer services, and declining costs for key components like lithium-ion batteries all played a significant role in driving the investment and development of energy storage.

What is the future of energy storage?

Chart 3.1 provides forecasts for new energy storage capacity and revenue for each of the six major developing regions identified in this report. The development of distributed and local energy resources, including renewables and energy storage, can provide significant economic growth, jobs, and a sustainable energy future in emerging markets.

Is energy storage a good investment?

The primary benefit of distributed storage systems, so-called “value-stacking,” also presents a risk if competing uses of the battery are not properly managed. Unlike traditional project financings where assets are limited in their application, an energy storage system must be given the flexibility to operate in a variety of service roles.

How do energy storage projects make money?

Energy storage projects provide a number of services and, for each service, receive a different revenue stream. Distributed energy storage projects offer two main sources of revenue. Capacity payments from the local utility are one.

How has the IRA impacted the energy storage industry?

The energy storage industry has continued to progress over the course of 2024 and into 2025, buoyed in significant part by the federal income tax benefits in the form of tax credits enacted under the IRA. Energy storage was one of the major beneficiaries of the IRA’s new rules on both the deployment and manufacturing sides.

Can energy storage technologies help drive development in emerging economies?

Energy storage technologies hold significant potential to help drive development in emerging economies by improving the quality of the electricity supply and facilitating the effective integration of renewable energy.