Investment in battery storage rose by 50 % in H1 2018 to $ 539 m , compared to the previous record of $ 480 m , according to a report by Mercom Capital Group . In contrast , it revealed venture capital investments in every other clean energy sector had fallen , while an analysis of the past six months demonstrated a massive increase in the number of battery installations , following Elon Musk 's 2017 rooftop solar Reserve project . He promised to build a 100 MW battery installation within 30 days or it would be free , and the scheme proved to investors batteries offer low risk but high rates of return .
Investment in battery storage rose by 12% in H1 2018 to $539m, compared to the 2017 figure of $480m, according to a report by Mercom Capital Group. In contrast, it revealed venture capital investments in every other clean energy sector had fallen, while an analysis of the past six months demonstrated a massive increase in the number of battery installations, following Elon Musk's 2017 Hornsdale Power Reserve project. He promised to build a 100 MW battery installation within 100 days or it would be free, and the scheme proved to investors batteries offer low risk but high rates of return.