US BESS capacity to nearly double by 2024

In its latest preliminary monthly generator inventory report, released on January 9, the EIA said that planned and operating utility-scale battery capacity in the United States will total about 16GW by the end of 2023.

Developers plan to add another 15GW in 2024 and around 9GW in 2025.

The EIA said that battery storage in the United States has been growing since 2021 and could grow by 89% by the end of 2024 if developers put all of their planned storage systems into service by their scheduled commercial operation dates.

Battery storage capacity is expected to expand to more than 30GW by the end of this year, which would exceed the storage capacity covered by petroleum liquids, geothermal, wood and wood waste or landfill gas.

California has the largest battery storage capacity (7.3GW), followed by Texas (3.2GW), driven in large part by rapid growth in variable solar and wind generation facilities.

The remaining states have a total battery storage capacity of around 3.5GW.

In a separate report on the UK energy market published on January 9, LCP Delta said modelling showed that deploying 20GW of long-duration energy storage could save the country’s electricity system up to £24 billion ($30 billion) between 2030 and 2050.

According to LCP’s analysis for the UK government consultation, the cost savings would be the result of reducing investment in additional offshore wind capacity and using LDES instead.

(Source: EIA Global Energy Storage Network, New Energy Network Comprehensive)