EIA: U.S. to Reach 30 Gigawatts of Battery Energy Storage by 2025

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) latest Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, the U.S. is expected to have 30 gigawatts (GW) of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in place by 2025. According to the EIA, U.S. power generators plan to have about 9.2 GW of battery storage in operation by the end of this year. The EIA's inventory surveys U.S. electric generators and found they intend to install another 20.8 GW of battery storage from 2023 through 2025.

The rapid growth of BESS in the U.S. has come as a consequence of the strong push toward renewable energy seen over the past few years. Wind and solar facilities provide power only when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining, and therefore a need to store power when electricity is not being generated has become increasingly important to help provide a consistent power supply during times of low generation.

Of the approximately 190 medium- and high-probability BESS projects planned in the U.S. from 2023 through 2025 (carrying a 70%-99% probability of moving forward as planned), many are coupled to renewable generation facilities, primarily solar facilities.

One of the trends seen in the growth of BESS projects is their increasing size. In a recent Today in Energy post, the EIA notes that before 2020, the largest BESS in the U.S. was 40 MW. These capacities have grown significantly over the years, although smaller systems still remain. The U.S. BESS projects IIR is tracking through 2025 range in size from about 20 megawatts (MW) to 1 GW. The largest operating BESS in the U.S. is NextEra Energy Incorporated's (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida) Manatee facility in Florida, which has a capacity of 409 MW and is coupled with a solar energy plant. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant Database can click here for the plant profile.

Specifically pointed out as locations of high BESS project activity is California, which leads the U.S. in solar power installation, and Texas, which is expected to install another 20.4 GW of solar capacity by 2025 and leads the nation in wind generation. Examples of upcoming projects in these states include the 408.3-MW Dragan BESS facility in Comanche, Texas, which will accompany a 411-MW solar energy facility. The project is expected to break ground next year and be completed in 2024. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Power Project Database can click here for more details on the BESS facility and click here for information on the solar generating facility.

Examples of upcoming BESS projects in California include Capital Dynamics Limited's (New York, New York) grassroot Vikings solar farm and BESS facility in Imperial, about 110 miles east of San Diego. Both the solar farm and BESS will have capacities of 150 MW. The projects are expected to begin early next year and be completed by yearend. Subscribers can click here for reports on the BESS and here for the solar farm.

While many active U.S. BESS projects are coupled with solar farms, a few coupled with wind facilities are creeping into the mix. In Joseph City, Arizona, AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) (Arlington, Virginia) plans to establish a windfarm with 104 turbines to generate 500 MW and an accompanying 250-MW BESS facility. The project is expected to kick off in 2024 and be completed in 2025. Subscribers can click here for the project report.

Of the U.S. projects planned to kick off through 2025, the Rocky Mountains region, which includes Arizona, leads by project value, with slightly less than $12 billion of planned medium- and high-probability BESS projects. Other upcoming projects in this region include NextEra Energy's Esmerelda solar and BESS facility near Tonopah, Nevada. In a nod toward larger capacities, both the solar farm and BESS will have capacities of 500 MW. The projects are expected to break ground in 2024 and be completed in late 2025. Subscribers can click here for more details on the BESS and here for the solar farm report.

Subscribers can click here for all project reports mentioned in this article, and click here for all related plant profiles.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).