What is a profit model for energy storage?

Operational Models: From "peak-valley arbitrage" to "carbon credit monetization," the profit models of commercial and industrial energy storage are becoming increasingly diversified. These new models not only provide investors and users with more choices and opportunities but also drive the continuous development of energy storage technology.

How do business models of energy storage work?

Building upon both strands of work, we propose to characterize business models of energy storage as the combination of an application of storage with the revenue stream earned from the operation and the market role of the investor.

How would a storage facility exploit differences in power prices?

In application (8), the owner of a storage facility would seize the opportunity to exploit differences in power prices by selling electricity when prices are high and buying energy when prices are low.

How can energy storage be profitable?

Where a profitable application of energy storage requires saving of costs or deferral of investments, direct mechanisms, such as subsidies and rebates, will be effective. For applications dependent on price arbitrage, the existence and access to variable market prices are essential.

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”).

What is a power storage facility?

In the first three applications (i.e., provide frequency containment, short-/long-term frequency restoration, and voltage control), a storage facility would provide either power supply or power demand for certain periods of time to support the stable operation of the power grid.