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US and global energy storage expansion

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2026-08-11 09:03 UTC → 2026-08-12 15:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The United States is seeing rapid expansion in its battery storage industry, with annual energy storage capacity increasing by 70% over a three-year period. This growth is fueled by the energy demands of artificial intelligence and data centers, as well as the need to integrate renewable sources like wind and solar into the grid. By the first half of 2026, operational battery storage capacity in public utilities reached nearly 52 GW. Developers plan to add an additional 54 GW of capacity through 2028, which could push total national operational storage past 105 GW. Notable projects include the Bellefield Solar and Energy Storage Farm in California, the Manatee Solar Energy Center in Florida, and the Gemini Solar Hybrid in Nevada. Additionally, localized initiatives are testing battery reuse, such as a pilot program in Massachusetts using electric school bus batteries to support the grid via bidirectional charging. On a broader scale, energy storage systems (ESS) are evolving into critical global infrastructure. Global installed capacity is projected to grow from 768.5 GW in 2025 to over 3,700 GW by 2033. Lithium-ion technology remains a dominant force, accounting for 58% of the market in ~~2025.~~ 2025, with utility-scale applications representing 66% of that segment. In the United States, battery technology has also become a matter of national defense and strategic priority. Due to geopolitical tensions, there is a shift toward treating batteries as “munitions rather than mere commodities.” Consequently, U.S. defense policies are prioritizing domestic production and secure supply chains to reduce dependence on China, including mandates to prohibit the procurement of certain battery cells or systems from Chinese sources through ~~2031.~~ 2031 and programs like the Drone Dominance Program to bolster domestic manufacturing.

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