Batteries just broke another record in the US
U.S. battery installations reached a record high in the second quarter of 2026, driven primarily by large-scale utility projects. While commercial battery growth remains strong, residential installations have declined due to the expiration of tax subsidies.
Why it matters
The growth in grid-scale storage is essential for integrating renewable energy sources, though the decline in residential systems highlights the impact of policy changes on consumer adoption.
Huge grid-scale batteries are thriving, but smaller residential systems have lagged.
Battery installations hit a new record in the US in the second quarter of 2026. In total, 20.2 gigawatt-hours of new capacity came online, according to a new report. That’s enough to supply the daily electricity needs of about 700,000 homes.
The surge is putting the country on a trajectory to see 71 gigawatt-hours of batteries installed in 2026, a 20% increase over last year. This growth is being driven by a combination of cheaper batteries and an urgent need for more energy storage capacity as renewables such as solar and onshore wind power are added to the grid.
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