Energy storage options will be competitive or cheaper than the majority of simple cycle combustion turbine (CT) peaking plants by 2018, according to new research which predicts advances in battery technology are about to disrupt more expensive generating facilities.
• Capital expenditures for a four-hour storage peaker will be about $1,390 by 2017, or $348 per (installed) kilowatt-hour of capacity, making it competitive with the high-end of simple cycle CTs, according to a report from the Energy Strategies Group.
• By 2018 the cheapest commercial-scale storage options will run about $244 per installed kWh of capacity, making it a winner against mid-range CT generation.
Source: CHPA