The global energy storage industry reached significant milestones in 2015, and momentum is expected to continue through 2016 and beyond. Rapidly falling technology costs and innovative new business models are combining with government policies and regulatory reforms to enable a dynamic and fast growing market for energy storage. The wide variety of technologies being deployed and applications being served by new energy storage systems (ESSs) demonstrate the increasing diversity and competition in the industry. Energy storage markets around the world are expected to continue growing substantially in the coming year, with several gigawatts worth of projects in the global pipeline for 2016. The rapid growth rates seen in key energy storage markets are changing the dynamics of the industry as increased competition drives innovation. The emergence of new players both from inside and outside of the traditional energy industries is creating a progressive market that will begin affecting grid operations at all levels. Battery energy storage systems continue to be the focus for the majority of new deployments and innovation in the industry as some of the world?s largest companies compete for a share of this multibillion-dollar industry. This Navigant Research white paper presents the top five trends for the energy storage industry in 2016 and beyond. The report examines some of the major market issues driving investment in energy storage around the world and how various stakeholders are adapting to the changing market. Each of the topics in this white paper is examined more deeply in research reports and ongoing research from Navigant Research?s Grid-Tied Energy Storage and Advanced Batteries Research Services.