Energy storage is starting to rival new transmission

Energy storage has emerged as a viable alternative to building transmission lines — and investors and utilities are taking notice.

Why it matters: The breakthrough is timely, as transmission issues remain one of the biggest bottlenecks slowing renewables deployment.

Driving the news: A new study from consulting group Quanta Technology argues that energy storage can compete on a cost basis with transmission.

• Caveat: The study was commissioned by — wait for it — an energy storage industry group. But other studies have emerged with the same conclusion.
• One example comes from consultant Guidehouse Insights, which in February also found that storage systems can rival new transmission.

Meanwhile: Grid operators and investors are already acting.

• California's Public Utilities Commission last week approved 800 MW in new solar and storage projects, per Utility Dive.
• Last week, storage developer Hydrostor signed a $1 billion, 25-year PPA to supply customers in California.

Plus: The U.S. is on track for nearly a 4x increase in utility-scale energy storage by 2025, the Energy Information Administration wrote last month.

• The bulk of new storage projects are planned for California and Texas — 23 GW in operating and planned storage capacity in those two states alone, per S&P Market Intelligence.
• The next closest is Nevada, at about 3.6 GW.