Battery storage accompanies over 16% of new US utility-scale solar capacity

Battery pairing gains ground in new solar

More than 16% of US utility-scale solar capacity added in 2026 through 2026-09 was located alongside operable battery storage, compared with 2% in 2017, according to operator data reported to EIA. The comparison shows a growing share of solar additions with storage available at the same site. It measures solar capacity, rather than the number of projects or the electricity they generated.

[Source 1](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68384)

Plans point higher, but commissioning matters

Including additions scheduled for 2026-10 through 2026-12, reported plans suggest the share could reach 19% for full-year 2026. Plans submitted for 2027 and 2028 put it above 30%. Those figures describe intended additions, not completed installations. EIA also notes that solar and battery units at one plant often start commercial service at different times, so a planned pairing does not establish that both resources will be available together from the outset.

[Source 1](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68384)

The economic benefit is flexibility over sales timing

EIA explains that wholesale prices in regions with substantial solar participation tend to weaken when solar output is high and strengthen as it falls. A paired battery lets an operator choose between sending solar electricity to the grid and storing it. Our interpretation is that the rising pairing share makes the timing of electricity sales increasingly relevant when assessing new solar projects. It does not establish a profit increase: the report provides neither project costs nor realized revenues.

[Source 1](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68384)

A share of solar capacity is not a battery-size measure

For the entire installed fleet as of 2026-09, solar photovoltaic accounted for 13% of US utility-scale generating capacity, and 18% of that solar capacity had co-located batteries. The 18% uses all installed solar capacity as its denominator; the over-16% figure concerns only 2026 additions through 2026-09. Neither percentage measures battery capacity, storage duration or the share of solar electricity actually stored. For battery suppliers, these figures indicate wider adoption alongside solar but do not quantify equipment demand.

[Source 1](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68384)