US utility-scale battery storage capacity averaged 70% annual growth over the past three years, adding grid flexibility for AI data center loads.

Utility-scale battery storage capacity in the United States has grown at an annual average rate of 70% over the past three years. By the end of 2025, the U.S. power system had 43.6 gigawatts (GW) of operational battery storage capacity. During the first six months of 2026, operators added another 8.3 GW, bringing the total to nearly 52 GW of nameplate capacity.

The pipeline remains robust. Operators report plans to deploy an additional 54 GW of battery storage capacity over the next two and a half years, with 14 GW targeted for the second half of 2026, 26 GW for 2027, and 14 GW for 2028.

Solar photovoltaic plants host the largest battery storage installations. The Bellefield Solar and Energy Storage Farm in California, which began operations in December 2025, couples 500 MW of solar capacity with 500 MW of nameplate battery storage for the California Independent System Operator. The facility has plans to double both its solar and storage capacity by November 2026, which would make it the largest power storage facility in the United States. The Manatee Solar Energy Center in Florida, operational since 2021, ranks second with 75 MW of solar capacity paired with 409 MW of battery storage. The Gemini Solar Hybrid in Nevada, which came online in 2024, combines 690 MW of solar capacity with 380 MW of storage.

These coupled facilities enable operators to arbitrage electricity prices by storing power when wholesale prices are low and discharging when prices rise, allowing producers to enhance profitability.