Clean energy investment and battery storage hit record levels in 2026

Clean energy investment and battery storage are seeing significant growth in 2026, despite the expiration of federal tax incentives such as the 30% credit from the Inflation Reduction Act. Clean energy capital expenditures reached $74 billion in the first half of the year and are projected to hit a record $180 billion by year-end, according to a report from fintech firm Crux.

In the residential sector, US home battery installations reached a record in the first quarter of 2026, marking an 86% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Homeowners are increasingly adopting these systems for energy security, cost reduction, and outage readiness. A survey by Habitelligence found that 91% of current owners would purchase the technology again.

On the utility scale, battery storage has reached 52 GW following years of rapid growth. This expansion is being driven by high energy demand from data centers and the artificial intelligence boom, which has spurred investment in renewables to ensure energy security and affordability.