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.

How do I evaluate potential revenue streams from energy storage assets?

Evaluating potential revenue streams from flexible assets, such as energy storage systems, is not simple. Investors need to consider the various value pools available to a storage asset, including wholesale, grid services, and capacity markets, as well as the inherent volatility of the prices of each (see sidebar, “Glossary”).

Should energy storage be undervalued?

The revenue potential of energy storage is often undervalued. Investors could adjust their evaluation approach to get a true estimate—improving profitability and supporting sustainability goals.

How important are ancillary services to energy storage?

Ancillary services that stabilize the power grid typically represent 50 to 80 percent of the full storage revenue stack of energy storage assets deployed today. This is observed across multiple mature storage markets but is expected to decrease to less than 40 percent by 2030.

What are the different types of energy incentives?

Capacity payments—awarded through competitive auctions—are the most common form of incentive, remunerating installed capacity to secure sufficient power supply for the system. New schemes are emerging as more countries offer incentives for storage deployment to support the energy transition.

Can stochastic models help accelerate the energy transition?

The use of stochastic models, coupled with innovative commercial strategies, could help operators better assess the potential of these assets—enhancing business cases and supporting the continued acceleration of the energy transition.