What are EPC costs?

EPC encompass the remaining costs for a turnkey project. The main cost segments are installation, project management, engineering, shipping, and commissioning. Variations in EPC costs may arise from specific site conditions or project requirements.

Are energy storage PCs cheaper than solar PV inverters?

Energy storage PCSs currently have a cost premium compared to solar PV inverters, but they are expected to achieve parity with solar PV inverter costs within five to ten years. The reductions will driven by standardization of products, which enables increased manufacturing volume and system design improvements.

Are energy storage systems changing?

Rapid change is underway in the energy storage sector. Prices for energy storage systems remain on a downward trajectory. The deployment of energy storage systems (ESSs) -- measured by capacity or energy -- continue to grow in the U.S., with a widening array of stationary power applications being successfully targeted.

Why are energy costs presented in $/kW and $/kWh?

Costs are presented in $/kW per the convention used for expressing generator costs and also in $/kWh due to energy storage being an energy limited device. Caution should be used in evaluating installed costs simply through $/kW or $/kWh values, as scale and energy duration characteristics impact a specific project’s overall economics.

How do limitations in charge power affect a storage system?

Limitations in charge power or rate may impact the storage systems ability to perform dynamic responses such as frequency regulation, and its ability to perform multiple cycles per day.

How did EPRI develop a cost range?

EPRI combined data from EPRI and utility projects with publicly available and paid cost and technology reports to develop initial performance assumptions and cost ranges. EPRI also conducted interviews with other cost analysts to understand underlying assumptions in order to ensure that the data used in this study were consistent.