USA: The US energy storage market installed a record 18.9 GWh of battery energy storage systems in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest US Energy Storage Monitor from the American Clean Power Association and Wood Mackenzie.
Installed energy capacity increased 17 % year on year, while installed power capacity declined 7 %. Average system duration increased from 2.8 hours to 3.5 hours, which the report links to growing resource adequacy requirements.
Utility-scale storage accounted for 4.7 GW and 17.6 GWh of Q2 installations. Power capacity in this segment fell 8 % year on year, although deployments during the first half of 2026 were 5 % higher than a year earlier.
The report projects utility-scale storage to grow at an average annual rate of 8 % over the next five years, partly driven by increasing electricity demand from data centres. Overall US storage capacity is projected to reach 207 GW and 715 GWh by 2031.
Community, commercial and industrial storage installations reached 48 MW in Q2, while residential installations totalled 676 MW.
The report also identifies potential near-term supply chain constraints, including trade restrictions. Utility-scale growth could slow in 2026 and 2027 before accelerating from 2028 as domestic battery cell manufacturing expands.
Virtual power plants are also expected to play a larger role by aggregating distributed storage to support electricity demand and grid operation.
Source: T&D World
