American energy storage developers installed 9.7 gigawatt-hours of new capacity in the first quarter of 2026, a record for the quarter, according to a sector report published on Thursday.
Energy storage capacity increased by 32% during the quarter compared to the previous year, despite federal measures that, according to the sector, slow down the development of clean energy, as reported by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
SEIA stated that the demand was driven by data centers, electricity price volatility, and disruptions in global gas and gas turbine supply.
Major technology companies, including Google and Meta, announced agreements this year to acquire tens of thousands of megawatt-hours of storage to power data centers necessary for AI technologies to operate.
CHALLENGES FOR CLEAN ENERGY
The solar industry faced price pressures and a freeze on permits for large projects under the Trump administration, as part of a program focused on oil, gas, coal, and nuclear energy.
The report showed that 467 solar and storage projects are awaiting authorization and could face delays or cancellations.
“If federal authorization hurdles persist, household electricity bills will continue to rise and China will further advance in the race for AI leadership,” the report stated.
The report forecasts an additional 610 GWh of storage capacity by 2030.
“The remarkable first quarter of energy storage only underscores the fundamental values of this technology,” said Darren Van’t Hof, interim president and CEO of SEIA.
Adequate energy storage can protect consumers from fuel price shocks, help reduce electricity costs, and enhance grid reliability, he added.
Texas, Arizona, and California led large-scale installations during the quarter. Over 70% of the large-scale storage capacity installed during this period was in states won by former President Donald Trump.
Large-scale projects accounted for 7.8 GWh of first-quarter installations; commercial and industrial systems added 648 megawatt-hours, and residential systems 515 MWh.
