Wood Mackenzie analysts provide insights from the Energy Storage International Conference and Expo 2026, highlighting key trends in battery storage, including advancements in cell capacity, modular designs, enhanced power control systems, the emergence of AI data centers as a new application, and the vertical integration of battery manufacturers into system integration. These developments signal a transformative shift in the energy storage market, emphasizing innovation and competition.
The most valuable insight for you is that battery manufacturers like BYD and CATL are moving towards vertical integration, expanding into system integration and EPC. This shift is compressing price margins for traditional system integrators and intensifying competition in terms of technology and cost. Monitoring how these manufacturers leverage their advantages in energy density and lifecycle against system integrators' focus on PCS-related factors could provide actionable insights for strategic positioning and investments in the energy storage sector.