Energy storage capacity booms as renewables growth stalls

4 May 2017

Commercial battery capacity could rise by as much as 100 times existing levels by 2020 as independent energy operators shift their focus from renewables to storage, new analysis says.

SmartestEnergy, which supplies energy sourced from independent renewable generators, assessed contract wins under the government’s capacity market, which ensures there is enough electricity to meet peak winter demand.

Independent developers secured 407MW of the battery contracts available, with just 105MW awarded to the ‘Big 6’ utility companies, according to a report of its findings. Independents also secured more than half the contracts to provide enhanced frequency response (...