Utility-Scale Solar Developers Co-Location Battery Storage at 16% of New Capacity

Utility‑scale solar developers in the U.S. are increasingly adding battery storage to new photovoltaic projects. As of September 2026, 16% of the new solar capacity added this year is co‑located with operable battery storage, up from 2% in 2017. Planned additions for the last quarter of 2026 could raise the share to 19%, and long‑term plans for 2027‑2028 show the proportion could exceed 30%. Co‑located plants can shift solar output between the grid and batteries to take advantage of fluctuating wholesale prices, improving revenue stability. The trend is strongest in the Southwest, where the share of solar capacity with battery storage is more than double the national average. Overall, 13% of U.S. utility‑scale generating capacity is solar PV, and 18% of that is co‑located with batteries.