Daily EV news · Global · 31 October 2026
Grid & Energy
Co-located battery storage now accounts for over 16% of new US utility-scale solar capacity added this year
According to data reported to EIA by operators, over 16% of new utility-scale solar capacity added so far this year (as of September 2026) is co-located with operable battery storage, compared with 2% in 2017. Plans for solar additions due online in the last three months of the year suggest the share could reach 19% for the year, and plans submitted for 2027 and 2028 show it rising to more than 30%. Co-location lets operators send solar output to the grid or the battery depending on wholesale prices, which tend to fall when solar output is high and rise as it drops.
Why it matters
Growing solar and storage pairing points to more grid-connected sites with on-site batteries and price-responsive dispatch, which may shape how CPOs and developers approach site power, grid connection and storage partnerships. Procurement teams should note that the figures come from EIA reporting on US utility-scale plants, so they signal a wider market direction rather than EV-charging-specific demand.