What are base year costs for utility-scale battery energy storage systems?

Base year costs for utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are based on a bottom-up cost model using the data and methodology for utility-scale BESS in (Ramasamy et al., 2021). The bottom-up BESS model accounts for major components, including the LIB pack, inverter, and the balance of system (BOS) needed for the installation.

How much does energy storage cost?

Let’s explore the costs of energy storage in more detail. Although energy storage systems seem attractive, their high costs prevent many businesses from purchasing and installing them. On average, a lithium ion battery system will cost approximately $130/kWh.

What are the different types of energy storage costs?

The cost categories used in the report extend across all energy storage technologies to allow ease of data comparison. Direct costs correspond to equipment capital and installation, while indirect costs include EPC fee and project development, which include permitting, preliminary engineering design, and the owner’s engineer and financing costs.

What are energy storage cost metrics?

Cost metrics are approached from the viewpoint of the final downstream entity in the energy storage project, ultimately representing the final project cost. This framework helps eliminate current inconsistencies associated with specific cost categories (e.g., energy storage racks vs. energy storage modules).

Are energy storage systems cost estimates accurate?

The cost estimates provided in the report are not intended to be exact numbers but reflect a representative cost based on ranges provided by various sources for the examined technologies. The analysis was done for energy storage systems (ESSs) across various power levels and energy-to-power ratios.

Are battery electricity storage systems a good investment?

This study shows that battery electricity storage systems offer enormous deployment and cost-reduction potential. By 2030, total installed costs could fall between 50% and 60% (and battery cell costs by even more), driven by optimisation of manufacturing facilities, combined with better combinations and reduced use of materials.