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Construction of large-scale battery energy storage systems across the United States reached historic levels last year, signaling continued momentum in grid modernization efforts.
Electrical grid batteries, including projects planned by utilities such as Oklahoma Gas and Electric near Enid and Ponca City, reflect a broader nationwide surge in development. According to a new industry analysis, installations are accelerating faster than earlier projections.
Canary Media reported that more than 13 gigawatts of energy storage was installed last year across the nation. It cited the information in a new report from the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and BloombergNEF. That’s up from the roughly 12 GW installed in 2024.
Industry observers say the scale of deployment marks a dramatic turning point for the sector.
Some have called it a “meteoric rise” of battery storage, or known as BESS by those doing the installation and construction. The storage allows the grid to bank electricity when it’s cheap and use it when prices are high and electrons are scarce.
The pace of development stands in stark contrast to where the industry was less than a decade ago.
In 2017, only 500 megawatts of grid battery capacity was online in the U.S.; now, there are individual battery installations larger than 500 MW, reported Canary.
Still, the sector had big expectations for itself back then: In 2017, the Energy Storage Association set a goal of reaching 35 GW of storage capacity by 2025. Last year, the sector smashed that goal, hitting it in July and ending the year with nearly 45 GW of installed capacity.
The rapid growth reflects increased demand for renewable energy integration, grid reliability improvements and protection against extreme weather disruptions. Utilities across multiple states are now pairing battery storage with wind and solar projects to stabilize supply and manage peak demand more effectively.
Energy analysts say battery storage is becoming a foundational component of modern grid infrastructure. As more intermittent renewable power comes online, large-scale batteries help balance fluctuations and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel peaker plants.
With federal incentives, falling battery costs and expanding utility-scale projects, industry experts expect the upward trend to continue into 2026 and beyond.
Originally reported by OK Energy Today.
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