What is the power capacity of a battery energy storage system?

As of the end of 2022, the total nameplate power capacity of operational utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESSs) in the United States was 8,842 MW and the total energy capacity was 11,105 MWh. Most of the BESS power capacity that was operational in 2022 was installed after 2014, and about 4,807 MW was installed in 2022 alone.

What is a battery energy storage system?

A battery energy storage system (BESS) is an electrochemical device that charges (or collects energy) from the grid or a power plant and then discharges that energy at a later time to provide electricity or other grid services when needed.

What is battery capacity?

When manufacturers or installers talk about battery capacity (or energy capacity), they usually talk about one of two metrics a battery is rated on: total capacity and usable capacity. We'll get into why those are different further down. For the time being, it's all just "capacity."

How long does a battery storage system last?

For example, a battery with 1 MW of power capacity and 4 MWh of usable energy capacity will have a storage duration of four hours. Cycle life/lifetime is the amount of time or cycles a battery storage system can provide regular charging and discharging before failure or significant degradation.

How big is battery energy storage in North America?

Over the last few years, battery energy storage has grown significantly across North America. In 2014, utility-scale battery storage capacity in North America was approximately 214 MWs. By 2019, this amount increased to 899 MWs. This growth is expected to continue with utility scale storage levels reaching 3,500 MWs by 2023.

What is the difference between battery capacity and kilowatt-hours?

On the other hand, battery capacity, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), represents the total amount of energy the system can store over time. It indicates the system's ability to accumulate and hold electrical energy for later use.