US battery installations set another record

Battery installations in the US reached a new high in the second quarter of 2026, with 20.2 gigawatt-hours of new capacity coming online, according to a report from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence and the Solar Energy Industries Association. The added capacity is enough to supply the daily electricity needs of about 700,000 homes.

The country is now on track for 71 gigawatt-hours of battery installations in 2026, a 20% increase over last year. Growth is being fueled by lower battery costs and the need for more storage as solar and onshore wind power are added to the grid. Utility-scale projects drove most of the gains, including Seven new gigascale systems with capacity of over one gigawatt-hour.

Behind-the-meter batteries also expanded, with data centers accounting for about three-quarters of new commercial-sector batteries. Residential installations weakened and are projected to drop by 16% in 2026 after a home battery tax credit ended in 2025, though nonresidential tax credits have largely remained in place.

The market is also shifting toward US-made technology. Most systems currently use cells made in China, but tariffs and tax credit rules are pushing developers to reduce reliance on Chinese imports. New US factories are planned, though they may not meet demand until at least 2030 or so.