Summary
- In the US, utility-scale battery storage capacity exceeded 26 GW in 2024
- Operators plan to add 19.6 GW of utility-scale battery storage in 2025
- Batteries store electricity previously generated, making them a secondary source of electricity
- Detailed information on battery storage is available on CleanTechnica’s Energy Explained page
- Users can sign up for daily news updates or complete a solar power survey on CleanTechnica’s website
Article
In the United States, utility-scale battery storage capacity exceeded 26 gigawatts in 2024, with 10.4 gigawatts of new capacity added that year. This growth in battery storage capacity is significant, but it still only accounts for 2% of the total utility-scale electricity generating capacity in the country, which stands at 1,230 gigawatts. Battery storage systems are not a primary source of electricity, but rather serve as a way to store electricity that has already been generated from other sources such as the electric power grid.
Looking ahead to 2025, operators are planning to add 19.6 gigawatts of utility-scale battery storage to the grid, setting the stage for potential record growth in capacity. Battery storage systems play a critical role in supporting the grid by providing additional flexibility and resilience to the electricity system. This growth in battery storage capacity highlights the increasing importance of energy storage technologies in the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Understanding how batteries and other energy storage systems work is essential for maximizing their effectiveness in the electricity generation sector. Energy storage technologies such as batteries offer a way to store excess electricity generated during periods of low demand for use during peak demand times. This helps to balance the supply and demand of electricity on the grid, ensuring a reliable and stable power system for consumers.
As the demand for renewable energy sources like solar power continues to grow, the importance of energy storage technologies like batteries will also increase. Battery storage systems enable the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the grid by storing excess energy generated during times of high production for use when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing. This helps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and supports the transition towards a more sustainable and low-carbon energy system.
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