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”).

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.

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.

What percentage of PCs shipments are to front-of-the-Meter (FTM) energy storage?

PCS shipments to front-of-the-meter (FTM) energy storage siting accounted for over 50% of total global shipments over the forecast period (2023–30), with the United States and China mainland accounting for the majority of these shipments.

Are hybrid inverters a good choice for roof-top solar installations?

One of the significant trends over the last few years has been the rapid growth in sales of hybrid inverters which are targeted at roof-top solar installations and in particular at residential installations.