Electrical Power Storage Technologies for Alternative Energy Sources

Report Highlights

The global market for alternative energy storage market reached $847 million in 2016. This market should reach $1.3 billion in 2017 and nearly $5.7 billion by 2022 under a consensus scenario at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.0% through 2022.

Report Includes

• An overview of the markets for electrical power storage technologies for alternative energy sources.
• Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2016, projections for 2017, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.
• In depth analysis of:
• Batteries (including lead-acid, nickel-based, lithium-based, sodium-sulfur, and redox-flow systems).
• Fuel cells, which can be powered by hydrogen generated by excess capacity.
• Flywheel energy storage, which stores excess energy in a high-speed, rotating, kinetic battery.
• Capacitive energy storage, which uses an electronic rather than an electrochemical approach to storing electrical energy.
• Analysis of the market's dynamics, specifically growth drivers, restraints, and opportunities.
• Major utility-scale alternative electrical power companies listed and characterized, and energy storage systems companies and integrators profiled.

Rpeort Scope

As defined by this report, alternative electrical power storage includes approaches that use primarily electric and high-speed kinetic approaches as opposed to larger-scale kinetic approaches such as pumped hydro and compressed air. As such, alternative electrical power storage includes:

• Batteries (including lead acid, nickel-based, lithium-based, sodium-sulfur, and redox flow systems).
• Fuel cells, which can be powered by hydrogen generated by excess capacity.
• Flywheel energy storage, which stores excess energy in a high-speed rotating kinetic battery.

Capacitive energy storage, which uses an electronic rather than an electrochemical approach to store electrical energy.

As defined by this report, alternative electrical power storage refers primarily to power generated by means other than coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and hydroelectric (wind, solar, geothermal, and tidal/wave). However, the alternative market is discussed in relation to this established “conventional” market.  It should also be noted that many of the energy-storage technologies discussed in this report can also be used during conventional power generation for peak shifting.

This report discusses the North American, European, Far Eastern, and Rest of World market in terms of units, value and megawatt capacity.  A target market based on optimistic, pessimistic, and consensus alternative energy adoption and power storage potential is provided. This is compared to the conventional power generation target and peak-shifting opportunities.  Major utility-scale alternative electrical power companies are listed and characterized, and energy-storage system companies and integrators are profiled in detail.

Note that there is a significant distinction between the term “alternative power” and the more commonly used term “renewable energy.” The distinction is as follows: 

• “Alternative power” is generated using processes beyond commonly used coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower.
• “Renewable energy” is generated using processes that do not expend mined or pumped resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear. However, in addition to all of the alternative fuels, renewable energy also includes hydropower.

An in-depth analysis of technical and business literature and published dissertations; a review of the history of the technologies involved; and interviews with industry experts, company representatives, federal government researchers, and university scientists provided an assessment of the outlook for alternative power storage.

Analyst Credentials

Donald Saxman is an industry-recognized expert in gas separation and oil recovery through carbon dioxide injection. His experience in both markets and technologies for corrosion inhibitors, and industrial gas end uses informs his research. While working for Zellweger Analytics as a subcontractor to Boeing Aerospace, he was quality assurance manager for the design, manufacture and testing of an organic carbon monitor for the International Space Station and its water recycling system. Saxman has worked with BCC Research as analyst and author for more than 20 years, and his reports include market research on lithium batteries and solid oxide fuel cells. He holds a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Indiana.