How to raise funds and make money in the energy storage industry

Are energy storage funds a good investment?

As nuclear and coal power plants are decommissioned, with a growing increase in intermittent renewable energy generation, energy storage funds have become an attractive investment proposition. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) allow energy from renewables to be stored and then released when customers need power most.

What are the future opportunities for energy storage?

Energy storage is a fast-emerging sector. Pumped hydro is the most used solution for now. Batteries are the next step to support renewable energy. Lithium technologies lead the way, but many upcoming technologies have different benefits. I provide an overview of possible opportunities.

Should Savers invest in energy storage?

As interest in the sector grows, so too do some of the options for savers to invest in and a number of investment trusts are targetting an area of the market considered essential for the future of green power - energy storage.

Why do we need energy storage?

‘Hence, energy storage not only allows consumer demand to be met, but also enables the integration of renewable energy into the power grid, allowing renewables to represent a greater portion of the energy mix, ultimately contributing to the achievement of our global climate goals.’

Why is the demand for energy storage increasing?

The demand for storage is increasing massively. Electrification is here to stay and after a period of flat-to-declining consumption (driven in part by energy efficiency tools from lED bulbs, to heat pumps, to smart thermostats & much more), the demand for electrons is going to rise as vehicles and other users of CO2 generating fuel convert.

How long should you hold energy storage projects?

As with other renewable assets, the holding period for energy storage projects is longer than stock market-based investing: Gresham recommends investors hold for a minimum of five years. ‘The trust now has a 30 per cent share of the UK BESS market and so has achieved scale quite quickly,’ says Gilligan.