Solar-plus-storage investment hits record $25 billion

Global investment in colocated renewable energy projects, specifically those combining solar power with battery storage, reached a record $25 billion in the first half of 2026. According to data from BloombergNEF, this figure nearly doubles the previous record set in the latter half of 2025.

The surge is driven by the increasing integration of batteries to mitigate the intermittent nature of solar energy. By pairing solar panels with grid batteries, projects can better manage power fluctuations and meet demand during non-sunny periods, functioning more like traditional on-demand power plants.

The United States remains a leading market for these investments. The grid battery sector in the U.S. recently achieved its best quarter for installations, aided by falling battery cell costs and increased developer confidence. Nearly half of the storage capacity added in the last quarter was built alongside solar farms.