The U.S. power storage trade put in 9.7 GWh of latest capability within the first quarter of 2026, the strongest first quarter within the sector’s historical past. In accordance with the “U.S. Energy Storage Market Outlook Q2 2026” (ESMO) launched at present by the Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation (SEIA) and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, power storage installations in Q1 had been up 32% year-over-year regardless of federal actions concentrating on clear power.
A Lightshift Power BESS challenge underneath building in Danville, Virginia. Credit score: Lightshift Power, Sanjay Suchak.
Greater than 610 GWh of power storage is now anticipated to be put in by 2030, which is increased than earlier projections.
“Power storage’s outstanding first quarter solely underscores the basic values of this expertise: it’s insulated from gasoline worth shocks, retains electrical energy prices down and strengthens grid reliability,” stated Darren Van’t Hof, interim president and CEO of the SEIA. “Whereas long-term forecasts are validating that the demand for this expertise is rising as off-takers search power safety, actions in Washington to stall allowing are threatening to gradual that progress. Storage may also help America meet rising power demand and strengthen American power independence, however provided that Washington lets the photo voltaic and storage trade construct.”
Information facilities are driving storage demand, with Google, Meta and different tech firms asserting offers to acquire tens-of-thousands of megawatt-hours of power storage thus far this 12 months. In accordance with SEIA evaluation, 467 photo voltaic and storage initiatives have permits pending and are susceptible to politically-motivated delays or cancellations.
“Power storage is now not only for backup, it’s important power safety infrastructure,” stated Shan Tomouk, BESS and power lead at Benchmark Minerals. “A supportive coverage panorama for BESS will likely be essential to enabling the rollout of AI and knowledge facilities, whereas mitigating adversarial value impacts to common shoppers.”
Texas, Arizona and California led the nation in utility-scale battery storage capability in Q1, sustaining their positions because the three largest power storage markets in America. Seventy-one p.c of all utility-scale power storage capability put in in Q1 was in-built states received by President Donald Trump. 13 states now have express power storage targets, and states like Georgia, Iowa and Mississippi put in a notable quantity of power storage in Q1.
In Q1, 7.8 GWh of utility-scale storage was put in in the USA, 648 MWh of business and industrial storage was put in and 515 MWh of residential storage was put in.
Information merchandise from the Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation
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