The US Energy Storage Association reported that battery storage capacity added in the United States soared by 475 MW or 240% in the third quarter of 2020, compared to the prior three-month period. Of which, nearly 400 MW came from front-of-the-meter storage, a type of energy storage aimed at improving the reliability of utility-scale wind and installations.
As of this year, the US has a total energy storage capacity of 1.2 GW. The Energy Storage Association expects the capacity to increase to 7.5 GW in 2025 and 100 GW in 2030. Energy storage facilities at solar and wind farms will lead the growth, the association said. In California alone, several projects are underway to add battery capacity by 500 MW.
Battery storage capacity is essential to smoothen the transition from gas, coal, and oil to renewables. It can cover electricity demand during occasional outages and low generation periods. Battery storage, however, still requires high investments, although costs have decreased steeply over the last couple of years. The development of new technologies is expected to lower costs and improve the efficiency of energy storage in the future.
