Utility-scale battery storage capacity in the United States has experienced rapid expansion, growing at an average annual rate of 70% over the preceding three years. By the conclusion of 2025, operational battery storage capacity reached 43.6 gigawatts. During the first half of this year, an additional 8.3 GW came online, bringing total nameplate capacity to nearly 52 GW.
The expansion is projected to continue at a substantial pace. Operators have submitted plans to deploy an additional 54 GW of battery storage capacity over the next two and a half years. For the remainder of this year alone, 14 GW of new capacity is scheduled to begin operations. The construction pipeline shows 26 GW planned for 2027 and 14 GW for 2028.
Solar photovoltaic installations have become the dominant host for battery storage systems. The Bellefield Solar and Energy Storage Farm in California began operations in December 2025 with 500 MW of solar capacity paired with 500 MW of storage capacity. The facility is expected to double in size by later this year, which would make it the largest battery storage facility in the country if expansion plans proceed as scheduled. Other major projects include the Manatee Solar Energy Center in Florida, which has operated since 2021 with 75 MW of solar and 409 MW of battery storage, and the Gemini Solar Hybrid in Nevada, which came online in 2024 with 690 MW of solar capacity and 380 MW of storage.
The co-location of storage systems with solar installations enables operators to capture economic advantages by storing electricity when wholesale prices are depressed and releasing it during periods of elevated pricing, thereby increasing profitability for power producers.
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