US expands grid storage with batteries equivalent to 20 nuclear plants

The United States has rapidly added large-scale battery storage to stabilize its power grid amid increasing reliance on renewable energy and the impacts of climate change.

Oliver Milman reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• The U.S. has added 20 GW of battery storage in the last four years, providing crucial backup power for renewables like wind and solar.
• California and Texas lead in battery usage to manage power supply and prevent outages, particularly during extreme weather events.
• Batteries offer a flexible energy source, but full reliance on renewables will also require significant upgrades to transmission infrastructure.

Key quote:

“We can leverage that stored energy and dispatch it when we need it.”

— Patti Poppe, CEO of PG&E

Why this matters:

Expanding battery storage helps make renewable energy more reliable, allowing the grid to balance supply even when wind or solar production dips. As the climate crisis intensifies, these systems can prevent blackouts during severe weather, though broader grid updates are essential for a fully resilient energy transition.