How Does Battery Storage Strengthen the Grid?
Utility-scale battery storage capacity in the United States increased by 66% in 2024, according to an article published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA, 2025). The same report pointed to an additional 19.6 GW of battery storage planned for 2025.
Although battery storage currently represents a small percentage of the United States’ overall electricity generating capacity, there’s clearly an opportunity for expansion. Let’s explore why battery storage is gaining momentum and how it's contributing to a stronger power grid.
Bolstering the Grid with Battery Storage
Utility-scale battery storage may seem like a relatively new concept to many Americans, but incorporating battery storage as part of a comprehensive energy strategy makes sense for several reasons.
Avoiding Blackouts & Brownouts: When a power plant temporarily goes offline, thousands of downstream consumers may experience service interruptions. That can pose a dangerous situation, especially during bitterly cold weather conditions. Maintaining an energy reserve with battery storage serves as a safeguard against blackouts and brownouts.
Protecting Against Natural Disasters: Tornados, hurricanes, and strong winds have the potential to damage powerlines and related infrastructure, leading to prolonged outages. Strategically placed battery storage facilities can help keep the lights on for customers while utility repairs occur.
Enhancing Renewable Energy Projects: Many solar and wind energy projects include battery storage sites. That’s largely due to the unpredictability of wind speeds and cloud coverage, which impact electricity generation. Capturing renewable energy with battery storage closes the gap between supply and demand, supports healthier ROI for project developers, and unlocks additional access to energy for consumers.
Avoiding Energy Waste: Night shift workers aside, most people in the United States sleep between sun down to sun up. It’s therefore no surprise that, according to the EIA’s hourly electricity consumption article from 2020, energy consumption drops noticeably during “off-peak” hours. Depending on a community’s mix of energy sources, more energy may be generated during off-peak hours than actually utilized. In such cases, storing excess energy in battery facilities poses a prudent strategy.
Land Services for Battery Storage
Contact our team at New Era Land Services to discuss your battery storage projects. Leverage our expertise for landowner outreach, lease negotiation and acquisition, title research, due diligence, and GIS support.