Which battery storage is the most cost-effective

The application analysis reveals that battery energy storage is the most cost-effective choice for durations of <2 h, while thermal energy storage is competitive for durations of 2.3–8 h. Pumped hydro storage and compressed-air energy storage emerges as the superior options for durations exceeding 8 h.

Lithium-ion batteries are the most widely used type of batteries in energy storage systems due to their decreasing cost over the years. As of 2024, the average cost for lithium-ion batteries has dropped significantly to R2,500 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), making energy storage systems more financially viable and accessible for businesses.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming essential in the shift towards renewable energy, providing solutions for grid stability, energy management, and power quality. However, understanding the costs associated with BESS is critical for anyone considering this technology, whether for a home, business, or utility scale.

The results show that battery energy storage is almost in an absolute advantage when the duration is <2 h, thermal energy storage has a strong competitiveness when the duration is 2.3–8 h, and Pumped storage gains economic advantages from 2.3 h, and dominates from 7.8 h and beyond.

Lithium batteries, in particular, demonstrate the best economic performance under the assumed annual cycle frequency. Notably, when the energy storage duration is extended to 6 h, the LCOS of lithium batteries can drop to <0.65 CNY/kWh.

It is important to examine the economic viability of battery storage investments. Here the authors introduced the Levelized Cost of Energy Storage metric to estimate the breakeven cost for energy storage and found that behind-the-meter storage installations will be financially advantageous in both Germany and California.