U.S. adds record 20 GWh in new energy storage in Q2, SEIA and Benchmark report

The country added a record amount of energy storage in the second quarter of 2026, according to a new industry report. Battery storage lets the grid save power (often from solar) and use it later, which can help keep the lights on during high-demand periods and, according to the report's authors, ease pressure on electricity bills.

Most of the new capacity was large-scale, built by utilities and by commercial and industrial users, including a big jump tied to data centers. Home battery installations actually dropped 27% compared with the same quarter last year. Analysts say this is a hangover from the rush to install home batteries before a federal tax credit (Section 25D) expired at the end of last year. If you were counting on that credit to help pay for a home battery, it is no longer available, and installation volumes have slowed since it ended.

The report also notes state-level moves that could matter depending on where you live. Illinois passed a law aiming for 3 gigawatts of storage by 2030, and Virginia set new targets for both short-duration and long-duration storage over the next couple of decades. Storage incentives and requirements vary a lot by state, so it's worth checking what programs, if any, your state currently offers if you're considering a home battery. Separately, federal regulators are reviewing how the country's regional grid operators handle large power users, which could shape how the grid manages growing electricity demand in the coming years.