Dynamic profit margin 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).

Is energy storage a strategic emerging industry?

As a strategic emerging industry, the energy storage industry has its own characteristics compared with other industries. However, there are still few studies focusing on the efficiency of the energy storage industry, and most of them are targeted at a certain link of value increment or a certain industry.

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.

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.

What contributes to the value-added of downstream energy storage companies?

Similarly, the strongest contribution to the value-added of downstream energy storage companies is corporate profitability; followed by scale strength and innovation; and the external environment of the company is also a key driver of the value-added of downstream energy storage application companies.

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.