Are energy storage assets a power trading asset?

In contrast to wind and solar, where the asset owner simply sells power into the grid when produced, energy storage assets are power trading assets. Different revenue streams can be stacked, and continuous trading decisions have to be made on whether to buy power, sell power, or participate in ancillary services.

Is energy storage a new asset class?

“With energy storage, there's a new and interesting asset class emerging, and the business model is fundamentally different to that of wind and solar,” says Ingmar Grebien, who leads GS Pearl Street and is a managing director in Goldman Sachs Global Banking & Markets.

Are energy storage systems in demand?

Energy storage systems are increasingly in demand to increase the effectiveness of solar power arrays, with the Energy Information Administration estimating in February that new utility-scale electric-generating capacity on the U.S. power grid will hit a record in 2025 after a 30% increase over the prior year.

Is energy storage a good investment?

Imbalances, in return, are driven by more renewables. Energy storage is therefore well-positioned for an electricity market dominated by renewables and represents an interesting new asset class. It’s also a potential hedge for players who already have classic renewable portfolios.

How do energy storage assets make money in Europe?

For short-duration energy storage assets, there are really three key revenue streams for energy storage assets in Europe. The first one is capacity payments, which have become a broadly implemented policy measure by governments to support system reliability and incentivize the installation of certain new power asset types.

How does energy storage make money?

Energy storage is shifting electricity, and it makes money from buying, selling, and trading the difference between low- and high-priced hours in the market. Storage assets therefore depend on price spreads, which tend to be higher with more imbalances. Imbalances, in return, are driven by more renewables.