Executive Summary
- Batteries in Great Britain have degraded by an average of 4.4% after 365 cycles.
- Despite increased cycling and higher depths of discharge, degradation remains lower than expected, as batteries rarely complete full-depth discharge cycles.
- In 2024, batteries have exported at 15% of their rated power on average, up from under 6% in 2020.
Subscribers to Modo Energy’s Research will also find out:
- Why operating strategies are limiting degradation, even as batteries cycle more frequently.
- How Balancing Mechanism participation and evolving market dynamics could lead to deeper discharges in the future.
- The role of long-term capacity market contracts in ensuring batteries undergo full-depth discharge testing.
To get full access to Modo Energy’s Research, book a call with a member of the team today.
Introduction
Batteries in Great Britain are cycling more than ever, delivering more energy than before, and some are approaching a decade of operation. All of these things contribute to degradation - which then impacts the revenue potential of battery energy storage.
So, just how far have batteries in Great Britain degraded?
Battery degradation refers to the reduction of a battery’s energy capacity over time. As lithium batteries are charged and discharged, chemical and physical changes occur inside them. These can reduce the battery’s ability to store energy.