I believe energy storage will become one of the defining infrastructure industries of the coming decades, and I see the United States as the most interesting market in the world for large-scale battery storage.
The global energy industry is entering a new era. For more than a century, electricity systems have been built around a relatively straightforward principle: generate electricity when it is needed and transport it to where it is consumed.
That model is now being fundamentally challenged.
Renewable energy, artificial intelligence, electrification, industrial expansion and the extraordinary growth of data centres are changing the way the world produces and consumes electricity. At the same time, existing power grids are facing increasing pressure, with transmission capacity, grid congestion and reliability becoming major challenges.
There is, however, one technology that has the potential to connect these developments and fundamentally change the economics of electricity.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
I believe energy storage will become one of the defining infrastructure industries of the coming decades. And while the opportunity is global, I see the United States as the most interesting market in the world for the development, deployment and commercialisation of large-scale battery storage.
From electricity generation to energy management
Historically, the energy industry has concentrated primarily on generation. The more electricity we needed, the more generation capacity we built.
But the energy landscape is becoming considerably more complex.
Solar and wind power are transforming electricity generation, but their production does not always correspond with consumption. Solar generation is strongest during daylight hours, while electricity demand often peaks later in the afternoon and evening. Wind generation is similarly dependent on weather conditions.
This creates a fundamental need for flexibility.
BESS provides that flexibility by allowing electricity to be stored when generation is abundant or electricity prices are attractive, and released when demand increases or the grid requires additional capacity.
The implications are substantial.
Energy storage can help balance electricity networks, reduce peak demand, provide frequency regulation, support renewable integration and improve the utilisation of existing infrastructure.
It is no longer simply a complementary technology for renewable energy projects.
Energy storage is becoming an essential component of the electricity infrastructure itself.
The United States: A market experiencing structural change
There are several reasons why I consider the United States particularly attractive.
First, the country is experiencing a significant increase in electricity demand after many years of relatively modest growth.
The expansion of artificial intelligence, hyperscale data centres, semiconductor manufacturing, industrial facilities and electrification is creating entirely new requirements for electricity generation and delivery.
According to the International Energy Agency, US electricity demand increased by 2.1% in 2025, following 2.8% growth in 2024. Data centres are expected to account for approximately half of US electricity demand growth through 2030.
This is an important structural change.
Data centres cannot simply switch off when electricity becomes expensive or when the grid experiences difficulties. They require continuous, reliable power, often at an enormous scale.
This creates an opportunity for integrated energy infrastructure combining generation, battery storage, grid services and dedicated power solutions.
Second, the United States has a substantial and geographically diverse electricity market. Different regions have different energy profiles, electricity pricing structures, transmission constraints and regulatory environments.
Texas, California, Arizona and the broader Southwest are particularly interesting markets for utility-scale storage, while regions such as the Midwest and the MISO South footprint offer additional opportunities connected to industrial demand, grid infrastructure and future electricity consumption.
The opportunity is not limited to one state or one electricity market.
It is a nationwide infrastructure opportunity.
The numbers tell an interesting story
The expansion of battery storage in the United States is already measurable.
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA):
• The United States ended 2025 with approximately 43.6 GW of operational utility-scale battery storage capacity.
• During the first six months of 2026, another 8.3 GW was added.
• Operational capacity consequently approached 52 GW by June 2026.
• Developers reported plans to bring another 54 GW online over the following two and a half years.
The American Clean Power Association and Wood Mackenzie also reported that the US energy storage market installed a record 18.9 GWh of battery storage during the second quarter of 2026.
These figures demonstrate that the industry is moving beyond early commercial adoption.
Large-scale storage is becoming a mainstream infrastructure investment category.
And this is still an industry in development.
AI and data centres will change the economics of energy
One of the most interesting developments is the relationship between energy storage and artificial intelligence.
The AI revolution is not only a technology story. It is also an energy story.
The construction of hyperscale data centres requires enormous amounts of electricity, reliable grid connections and increasingly sophisticated energy management.
In many locations, the challenge is no longer simply finding land or securing a data centre customer. It is securing sufficient electrical capacity.
Traditional grid expansion can take years. New transmission infrastructure, substations and generation capacity require substantial capital investment and lengthy development processes.
Battery storage offers another dimension.
Strategically located BESS facilities can provide rapid-response power, manage peak loads, support grid stability and help optimise the use of available generation and transmission capacity.
Combined with solar, gas generation or other power sources, storage can form part of an integrated energy solution for large industrial consumers and data centre developments.
I believe this relationship between AI infrastructure and energy storage will become one of the most important investment themes of the next decade.
The companies that understand both industries will have an interesting position in the emerging energy economy.
Why America is particularly attractive for investors and developers
The US market offers a combination of characteristics that is difficult to replicate in a single market elsewhere.
1. Scale
The American electricity market is enormous. Its regional power markets and diverse industrial base create opportunities for projects ranging from individual grid-scale installations to multi-gigawatt energy infrastructure developments.
2. Electricity demand growth
Data centres, AI, manufacturing and industrial expansion are creating new demand for reliable electricity. This makes energy storage increasingly relevant to both utilities and private-sector power consumers.
3. Commercial opportunities
BESS projects can generate value through several different applications, including energy arbitrage, capacity services, ancillary services, renewable integration and behind-the-meter power management. The precise revenue opportunities depend on location, market rules and project configuration.
4. Private capital and infrastructure investment
The United States has an established ecosystem of infrastructure investors, project developers, utilities, independent power producers and technology companies. This creates opportunities for partnerships, project financing and long-term asset ownership.
5. Geographic diversity
Different regions have different requirements. Texas has a rapidly developing electricity market, California has substantial renewable integration requirements, Arizona is experiencing strong energy infrastructure development, and the Midwest and Southern markets offer opportunities linked to industrial demand and grid modernisation.
For an ambitious BESS developer, this diversity creates multiple potential routes to market.
The next generation of BESS companies must think bigger
There is another important development that I believe will distinguish the next generation of energy storage companies from the current market.
The industry must move beyond simply assembling battery containers.
The long-term opportunity is to develop complete energy infrastructure platforms.
This means integrating battery technology, power conversion systems, thermal management, energy management software, grid connectivity, monitoring and intelligent control into commercially competitive solutions.
It also means developing manufacturing and assembly capabilities that can serve local markets, reduce delivery times and create more resilient supply chains.
Standardisation will be important. So will modularity, scalability, safety and the ability to deploy systems rapidly.
The industry will increasingly demand solutions that are not only technically advanced but also commercially attractive and straightforward to finance, install and operate.
In my view, the winners will not necessarily be the companies producing the largest number of battery cells.
They will be the companies that understand how to deliver, integrate and operate energy storage as part of a much larger electricity ecosystem.
The challenges should not be underestimated
Despite the enormous potential, BESS is not without challenges.
Grid interconnection can be slow. Project economics vary significantly between electricity markets. Battery supply chains remain exposed to geopolitical and trade developments, while permitting, fire safety, system degradation and long-term performance guarantees require serious attention.
The US market is also not a single uniform market. ERCOT, CAISO, PJM, MISO and other regional systems have different structures and commercial requirements.
A successful strategy must therefore be built around local market knowledge, strong technical partners, credible project development and disciplined capital allocation.
The opportunity is substantial, but execution will determine which companies succeed.
A global industry with an American centre of gravity
China remains a major force in battery manufacturing and deployment, while Europe, the Middle East, Japan and South Korea are developing their own energy storage markets.
The Middle East is particularly interesting because of its renewable energy ambitions, growing electricity consumption and substantial infrastructure investment programmes.
I also believe there is considerable potential for international companies to establish manufacturing, assembly and technology partnerships across these markets.
However, if I were to identify one market that currently combines the scale of opportunity, growing electricity demand, commercial sophistication and infrastructure investment potential, my choice would be the United States.
It is a market where the need for additional electricity capacity is becoming increasingly urgent, where AI and industrial expansion are changing demand patterns, and where battery storage is moving into the centre of the energy discussion.
The next decade will not simply be about building more power plants.
It will be about building a smarter, more flexible and more resilient electricity system.
And battery storage will be one of its most important foundations.
The future belongs to those who build the infrastructure
We are witnessing the beginning of a fundamental transformation in the global energy industry.
For decades, electricity infrastructure was largely designed around predictable consumption and centralised generation. Tomorrow's energy system will need to manage variable generation, increasingly demanding consumers, distributed resources, large-scale storage and intelligent power management.
BESS is at the intersection of all these developments.
I believe the industry is still in its early stages relative to the scale of what lies ahead. The coming years will create opportunities for companies capable of combining technology, manufacturing, project development and long-term infrastructure investment.
The United States is particularly well positioned to accelerate this transformation.
Energy storage is no longer just about storing electricity. It is about enabling the next generation of the global energy economy.
And that is a market worth paying attention to.
Lars Carlstrom is an international entrepreneur focused on energy infrastructure, battery storage, industrial development and emerging technologies.
Selected industry references
• US Energy Information Administration — Battery Storage Capacity, August 2026 Source ↗
• American Clean Power Association — US Energy Storage Monitor, Q2 2026 Source ↗
• International Energy Agency — Electricity 2026: Demand Source ↗
• US Department of Energy — National Transmission Needs Study Source ↗