{
  "id": 6403367,
  "title": "Batteries just broke another record in the US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/batteries-just-broke-another-record-in-the-us",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-09T09:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MIT Technology Review",
    "slug": "mit-technology-review",
    "url": "https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/09/09/1143680/batteries-us-record/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the second quarter of 2026, the United States recorded a new high in battery installations, with 20.2 gigawatt-hours of new capacity added to the grid. This substantial increase, a 20% rise from the previous year, positions the nation on track to install 71 gigawatt-hours of batteries in 2026. The surge in battery production is primarily driven by declining costs and the growing demand for energy storage as renewable sources like solar and wind power gain prominence. Leading the charge are massive, utility-scale systems, accounting for the majority of the record-breaking quarter. Seven new gigascale installations, each over one gigawatt-hour, came online during the three-month period, as reported by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence and the Solar Energy Industries Association.\n\nWhile utility-scale installations dominate the sector, there is also notable growth in smaller, behind-the-meter batteries. These systems, encompassing residential and industrial storage, were primarily driven by data centers, which comprised about three-quarters of new batteries in the commercial sector. However, residential battery installations experienced a significant decline. Data centers led the way in commercial behind-the-meter battery installations, making up about three-quarters of the new batteries in this sector. Residential batteries, though, saw a sharp slowdown, projected to drop by 16% in 2026 compared to the previous year. This decline is largely attributed to the expiration in 2025 of a tax credit that helped subsidize home battery systems. Still, the report suggests that home installations may rebound by the end of the decade. The tax credits for nonresidential batteries, however, remain intact.\n\nBatteries are proving to be a positive trend in the energy sector. \"This is one of the strong sectors in the US,\" states Isshu Kikuma, an energy storage analyst at BloombergNEF, an energy consultancy. As the market for batteries continues to expand, a key trend to watch is the increasing focus on producing batteries domestically in the United States. Currently, nearly all systems going online utilize cells sourced from China, although some are assembled into complete energy storage systems within the US. The imposition of tariffs has been pushing the US energy storage industry towards domestic production. Beginning this year, energy storage tax credits include a requirement that projects limit their reliance on batteries imported from China. While there is a substantial amount of manufacturing capacity set to come online in the US, these factories will likely not be able to meet demand until at least 2030, resulting in potential price increases.",
  "summary": "Battery installations hit a new record in the US in the second quarter of 2026. In total, 20.2 gigawatt-hours of new capacity came online, according to a new report. That’s enough to supply the daily electricity needs of about 700,000 homes. The surge is putting the country on a trajectory to see 71 gigawatt-hours of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}