Global battery energy storage capacity surged to 301.7 gigawatts (GW) in 2025, a 65.8% increase from 2024 and a 158-fold rise over a decade.
The growth, reported in the Energy Institute’s 2026 review, averages 66% annually.
China are leading with 144.1GW, nearly half the global total, adding over 64GW in 2025. The U.S. follows with 56.6GW, while Europe and Australia also show rapid expansion.
Batteries are vital for integrating solar power, which surpassed wind in global electricity generation for the first time.
Solar output peaks during daylight hours and electricity demand remains high after the sun goes down. To combat the demand, a battery can absorb electricity when generation is available, then return it to the grid later when it is is more valuable.
Utility-scale storage, now three-quarters of global capacity, is growing fastest and is transforming batteries from experimental technology into essential grid infrastructure.
This evolution helps manage the tension between growing renewables and persistent fossil fuel reliance.
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