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 assets a power trading asset?

Absolutely vital. 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.

Are energy storage assets a good investment?

Storage assets therefore depend on price spreads, which tend to be higher with more imbalances. 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.

Does energy storage have a long-term risk?

The rapid increase in renewable assets that all generate at the same time and with low marginal cost of production means that there's a long-term risk of lower electricity prices, lower capture rates, and lower revenues for those assets. The exact opposite is true for energy storage.

How many energy storage assets are there in the UK?

Trading strategies are becoming increasingly sophisticated with a strong reliance on technology and big data analytics. In the UK — the most advanced battery market in Europe — there are currently 23 entities trading energy storage assets.

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.