In this article, we explore three business models for commercial and industrial energy storage: owner-owned investment, energy management contracts, and financial leasing.
What are business models for energy storage?
Business Models for Energy Storage Rows display market roles, columns reflect types of revenue streams, and boxes specify the business model around an application. Each of the three parameters is useful to systematically differentiate investment opportunities for energy storage in terms of applicable business models.
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 new business opportunity?
With the rise of intermittent renewables, energy storage is needed to maintain balance between demand and supply. With a changing role for storage in the ener-gy system, new business opportunities for energy stor-age will arise and players are preparing to seize these new business opportunities.
We propose to characterize a “business model” for storage by three parameters: the application of a storage facility, the market role of a potential investor, and the revenue stream obtained from its operation (Massa et al., 2017).
Can energy storage disrupt business models?
Energy storage has the potential to disrupt business models. Energy storage has been around for a long time. Ales-sandro Volta invented the battery in 1800. Even earlier, in 1749, Benjamin Franklin had conducted the first ex-periments. And the first pumped hydro storage facili-ties (PHS) were built in Italy and Switzerland in 1890.
Are energy storage projects ready for a bright future?
In anticipation of a bright future, the first projects with energy storage are being set up. We have analyzed some of these cases and clustered them according to their po-sition in the energy value chain and the type of revenues associated with the business model.