1. The energy storage market in Australia had a record-breaking year in 2023, with a majority of battery installations coming from the residential sector.
2. The potential for distributed energy resources (DERs) to be aggregated into virtual power plants (VPPs) is gaining traction and could offer significant benefits in managing peak demand on the grid.
3. The BESS industry is focusing on safety measures for projects in the field, while also looking into leveraging tax incentives for domestic cell manufacturing in the US.
This content discusses the record-breaking year in 2023 for Europe’s energy storage industry, with 10GW of installations, split approximately 7:3 in favor of residential battery storage versus utility-scale. Similarly, Australia had a record-breaking year, with around 1.4GWh of grid-scale storage deployed and a large amount under construction. There is a prediction that residential and distributed installs will take over by the 2030s, with Australia’s rooftop solar PV market playing a significant role in this shift.
The potential for distributed energy resources (DERs) to help manage peak demand on the grid is highlighted, with virtual power plants (VPPs) becoming an interesting proposition as DER deployment levels increase. The potential for DER aggregation, including home batteries, EV chargers, and solar PV systems, to provide energy and power services comparable to large-scale resources is explored.
The impact of the recent solar eclipse on energy storage systems is also discussed, showing that the systems remained stable and performed as needed during the event. The potential for energy storage to support grid stability and flexibility in the future powered entirely by renewable resources is highlighted.
The content also touches on the second life energy storage industry, battery technology startup Alsym Energy, and efforts to ensure the safety of battery storage projects in the field. The challenges and opportunities for the BESS industry, including domestic cell manufacturing incentives in the US, are also discussed.