Intertek CEA says 587Ah cells could drive down BESS costs through 2027

Battery manufacturers are shifting to a larger battery cell format, called 587Ah, that could make home and grid battery storage systems cheaper over the next couple of years, according to a new industry forecast. The cell itself only stores about 20% more energy than older designs, but because manufacturers can fit the same number of these bigger cells into a battery module, the module ends up 60% to 80% denser. That matters because it means fewer supporting parts and less wiring and hardware are needed around the cells, which brings down the overall cost per unit of stored energy.

This cost saving comes even though the price of lithium carbonate, a key battery material, has roughly tripled due to supply problems. The forecast notes that lithium is a smaller piece of total battery system cost than people might assume, so savings from simpler, more compact system design can outweigh higher material prices.

For homeowners considering battery storage, alongside solar panels or as backup power, this suggests prices could keep trending down as manufacturers adopt these larger cells. CATL, a major battery maker, began shipping 587Ah cells in mid-2025 and has scaled up production since, with other manufacturers introducing similar or larger formats. The forecast also expects further cost declines from new battery chemistries and eventually solid-state batteries, even as savings from factory automation start to level off. None of this changes what's on the market today, but it points to lower prices ahead for anyone weighing a battery purchase in the next year or two.