The advancement of energy storage is strengthening the battery industry chain in the United States. By 2025, the segment will surpass the automotive industry and become the main driver of investment in the country's battery supply chain, according to a report released by the US Energy Storage Coalition.
The document accompanies the commitment made by the sector to invest US$100 billion in the manufacture of equipment and the production of critical minerals in the United States. These investments are expected to contribute to the creation of more than 350 jobs.
According to the report, the United States' capacity to manufacture modules and storage systems is expected to reach 146 GWh in 2026. This volume exceeds the projected annual demand for large-scale projects, estimated at 60 GWh for 2027.
Industrial capacity could reach 164 GWh in 2027, remaining at that level in 2028. In 2023, the country had only 7,5 GWh of capacity for manufacturing systems. This volume increased to 43 GWh in 2024 and 69 GWh in 2025.
These industrial units are not limited to battery assembly. The supply chain also involves the manufacture of steel structures, inverters, power conversion systems, control equipment, thermal management solutions, and operating software.
The manufacturing of cells intended for stationary storage is also undergoing rapid expansion. After remaining close to zero until 2024, North American capacity is projected to reach 20 GWh in 2025 and could reach 96 GWh in 2026.
For 2027 and 2028, the projection is 133 GWh. With this, industrial capacity should exceed domestic demand for batteries for storage projects. The projections consider both factories in operation and expansions and additional capacities still pending implementation.
Expansion reaches the critical minerals supply chain.
The growth in storage is also encouraging investments in the extraction and processing of lithium, synthetic graphite, copper, and other materials used in battery production.
US lithium processing capacity is projected to grow from 28 GWh in 2025 to 118 GWh in 2030, according to the report.
Among the projects mentioned is Tesla's lithium refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas. With an investment exceeding US$1 billion, the facility is expected to process enough material to supply the annual production of 30 GWh of batteries.
However, the manufacture of materials for anodes still appears to be one of the least developed links in the chain. Production capacity, estimated at 12 GWh in 2025, could reach 121 GWh in 2030. The report highlights that part of this volume could also be destined for export.
In addition to lithium-ion batteries, American companies are investing in long-lasting technologies. Form Energy invested US$760 million in the construction of a factory in West Virginia. The unit will produce iron-air batteries capable of storing energy for up to 100 hours and is expected to generate 750 jobs.
According to the US Energy Storage Coalition, the growth in electricity demand, driven by the installation of data centers, electrification, and industrial expansion, is creating a cycle of investments in storage, equipment manufacturing, and critical minerals in the US.
The report argues that this expansion could increase the reliability of the electrical system and provide the capacity and flexibility to meet new loads.
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