According to Anza's Q2 Storage pricing insights report, the second quarter saw the sharpest single jump in battery energy storage prices since 2021, when the industry was dealing with post-pandemic supply chain woes.
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How much does battery storage cost?
Recent data reported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory indicated that costs for battery storage averaged $477 per kWh for a 240-MWh system. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that energy storage installed capacity nearly doubled last year with more than 15 GW in projects installed.
Dramatic growth in battery storage will be fundamental to the clean energy transition. Rising prices risk curtailing that growth. Billions of dollars are flowing into battery storage, a technology critical to the clean energy transition.
A recent report from GlobalData noted “volatility in material supply chains and prices could impede growth” of the battery storage market, adding that “cost perceptions in price-sensitive markets” could also deter investment.
If steeper tariffs are enacted on the global battery energy storage supply chain under the Trump Administration, the near-term impact could raise U.S. costs on battery technology by 35% or more, according to a new report by the group Clean Energy Associates. Whether this impedes that multi-year growth pattern remains to be seen.
Will a 60% tariff increase energy storage costs?
“What we found is that with the 60% tariff, the cost [of a turnkey energy storage system] increases by 60% compared to 2025, so this is quite a big cost jump if the US actually decided to do so,” Kikuma says.
Is battery storage a political horizon?
Battery storage capacity has skyrocketed in the U.S. as energy transition developers seek balancing assets for renewables, but the near-term pricing dynamic may face increasing pressure on the political horizon.