ABB Whitepaper | Batteries without Barriers: Transforming energy storage into a business opportunity

  Posted by: electime      23rd October 2025

As global electricity demand surges — projected to rise 75% by 2050 — businesses worldwide face mounting pressure on grid infrastructure, rising energy costs, and the challenge of maintaining reliable power supply. Yet, for many businesses, the upfront costs and complexity of battery storage have kept this solution out of reach.

A new whitepaper from ABB Electrification Service, developed in partnership with GridBeyond, explores how Battery Energy Storage Systems-as-a-Service (BESS-as-a-Service) is transforming energy management for commercial and industrial businesses navigating the energy transition — from manufacturing and data centres to transport and EV charging infrastructure.

The BESS-as-a-Service model eliminates traditional barriers by delivering profits exceeding service fees from day one, transferring all risks to the provider, converting CapEx to predictable OpEx, and managing the full asset lifecycle.

Key insights from the paper:

• Global BESS market is forecast to reach USD 150 billion by 2030, with storage now the critical enabler of renewable integration.
• BESS-as-a-Service eliminates CapEx entirely — customers pay a predictable OpEx fee, while ABB manages performance, maintenance, and trading.
• From day one, financial returns exceed service fees, delivering guaranteed savings and resilience.
• AI-driven energy forecasting and optimisation maximise revenue streams through price arbitrage, frequency regulation, and demand-charge management.
• By balancing cost, carbon, and continuity, businesses can reduce grid reliance, enhance energy security, and progress toward net-zero targets — profitably.

Beyond eliminating traditional barriers, the whitepaper identifies four key value opportunities: cost reduction through peak shaving and demand charge management, market participation via energy arbitrage and frequency regulation, infrastructure savings by avoiding grid upgrade costs, and business continuity through backup power protection.

To download the full whitepaper, please visit: https://global.abb/group/en

I’m also sharing some commentary from Stuart Thompson, President of ABB Electrification Service, on the significance of BESS-as-a-Service for your consideration:

“The business case for battery storage has never been stronger. We need energy solutions that deliver immediate financial returns, operational resilience, and the flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions. 

With BESS-as-a-Service, the barriers to entry are eliminated: no upfront capital, no technology risk, just immediate access to cost savings and new revenue opportunities. Whether companies are pursuing sustainability goals or simply looking to optimise their energy spend, battery storage delivers tangible value from day one.”