Cheaper Battery Storage Enabling ‘Anytime’ Solar, Ember Says
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Batteries are getting cheaper and allowing solar power to be used beyond daylight hours, according to new analysis from clean energy think tank Ember.Author of the article:You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — Batteries are getting cheaper and allowing solar power to be used beyond daylight hours, according to new analysis from clean energy think tank Ember.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.The costs of building giant, utility-scale batteries globally have declined significantly in recent years — including a 40% drop in 2024 — and have room to fall further, the report released on Thursday showed. This in turn has lowered the cost of storing solar for use anytime to $76 per megawatt-hour, a highly competitive level against new fossil fuel generation. Ember collected evidence from recent power auctions in Italy, Saudi Arabia and India, and from developers across global markets, it said.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.The drop in energy storage costs comes as record levels of solar and wind capacity go online in some countries, straining grids that are forced to curtail their use in the interest of stability. Affordability is also key for high-polluting, developing countries looking to transition away from fossil fuels that otherwise remain attractive due to their cost-competitiveness.“Solar is no longer just cheap daytime electricity, now it’s anytime dispatchable electricity,” said Kostantsa Rangelova, global electricity analyst with Ember and the lead author of the report. “This is a game-changer for countries with fast-growing demand and strong solar resources.”Smaller battery packs are also getting cheaper due to manufacturing overcapacity, intense competition and an ongoing shift to lower-cost lithium iron phosphate batteries. This is expected to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and deployment of larger storage systems, according to the latest forecast by BloombergNEF.Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4© 2025 Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can manage saved articles in your account.and save up to 100 articles!You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.