Statistics of initial investment costs for lithium-ion energy storage

Are battery storage Investments economically viable?

It is important to examine the economic viability of battery storage investments. Here the authors introduced the Levelized Cost of Energy Storage metric to estimate the breakeven cost for energy storage and found that behind-the-meter storage installations will be financially advantageous in both Germany and California.

Will lithium-ion batteries become more expensive in 2030?

According to some projections, by 2030, the cost of lithium-ion batteries could decrease by an additional 30–40%, driven by technological advancements and increased production. This trend is expected to open up new markets and applications for battery storage, further driving economic viability.

How has the cost of battery storage changed over the past decade?

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.

How long does a lithium-ion battery storage system last?

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.

Is battery storage a cost effective energy storage solution?

Cost effective energy storage is arguably the main hurdle to overcoming the generation variability of renewables. Though energy storage can be achieved in a variety of ways, battery storage has the advantage that it can be deployed in a modular and distributed fashion 4.

Are battery storage costs based on long-term planning models?

Battery storage costs have evolved rapidly over the past several years, necessitating an update to storage cost projections used in long-term planning models and other activities. This work documents the development of these projections, which are based on recent publications of storage costs.