Quan Jing Wang·2025-12-24 02:20Core Viewpoint - The energy storage industry is experiencing a robust growth phase driven by strong demand both domestically and internationally, with leading battery companies operating at full capacity and battery prices continuing to rise, indicating a shift towards a more profitable and sustainable business model [1] Group 1: Demand Explosion - Global energy storage installations are on the rise, with China being the largest market. In 2024, global new energy storage installations are expected to reach 74 GW, a 62.5% increase year-on-year. China, the US, and Europe will account for 90% of this growth [2] - In 2024, China's new energy storage installations are projected to reach 43.7 GW, a 103% increase year-on-year, marking the first time installations exceed 100 GWh [2] Group 2: Policy Changes - The release of the "136 Document" in February 2025 marks a significant policy shift, ending the controversial "mandatory storage" era and allowing energy storage to operate independently in the electricity market [4] - The "New Energy Storage Scale Construction Action Plan (2025-2027)" aims for a national energy storage capacity of over 180 million kilowatts by 2027, promoting diverse revenue channels for energy storage [4] Group 3: Market Dynamics - In the first half of 2025, new energy storage projects in China added 23.0 GW, with a year-on-year increase of 68% in both power and energy capacity [6] - Local governments are introducing capacity price subsidies, leading to an internal rate of return (IRR) of 6-12% for energy storage projects, significantly boosting bidding and registration volumes [7] Group 4: International Market Trends - In the US, the rapid growth of AI data centers is reshaping energy demand, with projections indicating that by 2030, AI data centers could account for over 20% of electricity demand. This is expected to drive a significant increase in energy storage installations [9] - The European market is also expanding, with expected installations of 20 GWh in 2025, a 131% increase year-on-year, driven by supportive capacity pricing policies [9] Group 5: Price Recovery - The energy storage market is witnessing a price recovery, with the average price of 2-hour storage systems rising by 31% in September 2025. This marks a departure from the previous low-price competition [13][14] - The introduction of capacity pricing and spot markets is expected to enhance the profitability of independent energy storage, leading to sustained demand and price increases [14] Group 6: Conclusion - The growth of the energy storage sector is closely linked to the transition towards renewable energy and the evolving electricity system, positioning it as a critical infrastructure in the AI era [16] - Major players in the industry, including leading battery manufacturers and specialized companies, are being propelled to the forefront of this transformative wave [16][18]