BESS capacity tops 250 GW worldwide
According to industry tracking, the worldwide installed capacity of battery energy storage systems (BESS) has now surpassed 250 GW, exceeding the global capacity of pumped hydro energy storage for the first time in history. This milestone reflects almost two decades of rapid progress in utility-scale and distributed energy storage deployment around the world.
Battery storage has grown from niche demonstration projects in the early 2010s to a core pillar of modern power systems. A combination of policy support, declining costs, and the increasing penetration of variable renewable generation — chiefly solar PV and wind — has driven unprecedented demand for reliable, flexible grid support technologies.
Why this matters for grids and renewables
Battery storage provides multiple value streams that pumped hydro cannot easily match, particularly in modern grids:
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Fast response and grid stability: BESS can deliver power in milliseconds to counter voltage and frequency fluctuations.
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Modularity and scalability: Unlike large pumped hydro projects that require specific geography, BESS can be sited close to load centers and scaled incrementally.
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Renewable integration: Batteries help absorb midday solar surplus and shift that energy to periods of higher demand, easing solar and wind integration and mitigating curtailment.
Surpassing pumped hydro is not simply a capacity comparison; it signals a fundamental shift in grid energy architecture. While pumped hydro remains a valuable long-duration resource, batteries increasingly shoulder the bulk of new capacity additions due to their flexibility, shorter deployment timelines, and broad applicability across system sizes.
Regional dynamics in storage growth
Growth in battery storage has been strongest in markets that pair high renewable penetration with strong policy frameworks, including:
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China: Continued aggressive deployment of utility and distributed storage to support solar and wind integration.
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United States: Rapid build-out across multiple regional markets as grid operators and utilities embrace storage for capacity, flexibility and resilience.
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Europe: Accelerated storage activity in Germany, Italy, Spain and other markets seeking to reinforce grid reliability and decarbonise power systems.
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Australia and Latin America: High renewable penetration and supportive market mechanisms have driven strong BESS adoption outside traditional Western markets.
The geographical spread of battery growth underlines storage’s global relevance — from advanced grids in OECD countries to emerging electrification markets in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
What’s next for energy storage
With installed capacity now exceeding 250 GW, the battery storage industry is positioned for another phase of expansion. Analysts forecast continued robust build-out, with global annual installations expected to remain high through 2026 and beyond. Cost improvements, technology diversification (including flow, sodium-ion, and long-duration storage pathways), and market design enhancements that reward flexibility and grid services will be key drivers of future growth.
Battery storage’s rise to prominence over pumped hydro also reflects broader shifts in energy strategy: utility planners, regulators and policymakers increasingly view storage as a multi-purpose resource capable of addressing reliability, resilience, renewable variability and system economics in a way traditional bulk storage cannot.
As the global power system evolves, surpassing 250 GW is more than a headline — it is a marker of the energy transition’s maturation and the central role energy storage will play in the clean grid of the future.