Global Energy Storage News – September 2026
Energy storage is becoming a critical part of modern electricity infrastructure as power systems accommodate larger amounts of variable generation and increasingly complex patterns of supply and demand. During September 2026, energy storage systems advanced through major project milestones across several regions, including new utility-scale installations, construction activity, investment decisions, and grid-connected battery projects.
Beyond increasing installed capacity, the storage sector is evolving toward systems designed for different power, duration, and grid-support requirements. Large battery projects are being deployed for energy shifting, frequency response, transmission support, and integration of renewable energy, while manufacturers and developers continue to expand production capacity and invest in increasingly large storage projects.
Technology development is also widening the range of solutions available beyond conventional lithium-ion systems. This September update examines selected projects and deployment, markets and industry developments, and storage technologies, including emerging battery chemistries and long-duration concepts that could influence the future design and operation of battery energy storage systems and electricity networks.
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| Global energy storage developments, industry trends, and technology innovations – September 2026. |
Energy Storage Projects and Global Deployment
September 2026 marked significant progress in energy storage deployment across several global markets, with large battery projects reaching commercial operation, construction, investment, equipment delivery, and commissioning milestones. The selected developments range from multi-gigawatt-hour utility-scale systems to multi-hour installations providing grid stability, renewable energy integration, and transmission support.
1. Australia's 850 MW / 1,680 MWh Waratah Super Battery Reaches Commercial Operation
The 850 MW / 1,680 MWh Waratah Super Battery reached final commercial operation in New South Wales in September. Developed by Akaysha Energy, the project is one of the world's most powerful battery energy storage systems and plays an important role in strengthening electricity transmission into the Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong areas.
A key function of the battery is its integration with the System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS), which allows the system to respond rapidly to major transmission disturbances. This enables existing transmission infrastructure to operate at higher capacity while maintaining grid security.
2. Gotion Selected to Supply 6 GWh for Saudi Arabia's Utility-Scale BESS Programme
Gotion High-Tech was selected to supply battery energy storage systems for three major projects in Saudi Arabia with a combined capacity of 1.5 GW / 6 GWh. The Al-Muwaih, Kahafah, and Haden projects will each provide 500 MW of power and 2 GWh of storage capacity.
The projects form part of Saudi Arabia's first large-scale utility battery storage programme and will support the country's expanding renewable energy capacity. The four-hour storage systems are designed to improve grid flexibility and help manage variations between electricity generation and demand.
3. Construction Starts on Poland's 600 MW / 2.4 GWh Siedlce BESS
Greenvolt Power began construction of the 600 MW / 2.4 GWh Siedlce battery energy storage project in Poland. The four-hour system is expected to become the country's largest battery storage facility and one of the largest BESS projects under development in Europe.
BYD Energy Storage will provide the battery technology for the project, which is designed to support renewable energy integration and improve flexibility within Poland's electricity system. Commercial operation is targeted for the end of 2027.
4. Equipment Delivery Begins for Egypt's 750 MW / 1.5 GWh Nefertiti and Horus BESS Projects
Equipment deliveries began for Egypt's Nefertiti and Horus standalone battery energy storage projects in September. The two projects have a combined capacity of 750 MW / 1.5 GWh, comprising the 500 MW / 1,000 MWh Nefertiti BESS and the 250 MW / 500 MWh Horus BESS.
The projects represent Egypt's first major standalone utility-scale battery storage developments and will strengthen the country's ability to integrate variable renewable generation. Gotion began full-scale equipment delivery in September, marking an important implementation milestone for large-scale energy storage in Egypt.
5. Vattenfall Takes FID on 254 MW / 1 GWh Brunsbüttel BESS in Germany
Vattenfall reached a final investment decision for a 254 MW battery energy storage project at Brunsbüttel in northern Germany. The system will provide approximately 1 GWh of storage capacity and will be developed at the site of the former Brunsbüttel nuclear power plant.
The project will connect to the 380 kV transmission network and use existing energy infrastructure at the site. The battery is intended to provide grid flexibility and support increasing volumes of renewable electricity within Germany's power system.
6. Morocco Energises First Large-Scale 25 MW / 125 MWh LFP Battery System
OCP Green Energy completed installation and energised Morocco's first large-scale lithium iron phosphate battery energy storage system at Benguerir. The 25 MW / 125 MWh installation provides approximately five hours of storage and entered commissioning and testing during September.
The battery is integrated with renewable generation serving OCP's industrial operations and is designed to provide functions including energy shifting, frequency regulation, and reactive power support. Although smaller than several other September projects, its five-hour duration and grid-support capabilities make it an important storage milestone for Morocco.
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| Major energy storage project and deployment milestones worldwide – September 2026. |
Energy Storage Markets, Manufacturing and Industry
The expansion of energy storage is increasingly being shaped not only by new projects, but also by procurement programmes, manufacturing capacity, grid-access rules, and distributed storage markets. September 2026 highlighted both sides of this growth, with new investment and deployment opportunities developing alongside concerns over manufacturing overcapacity and congested grid-connection queues.
1. New York Awards 950 MW in First Bulk Energy Storage Procurement
New York State awarded contracts to eight utility-scale energy storage projects totaling 950 MW through its first Bulk Energy Storage solicitation. The selected projects are distributed across New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Western New York, and other parts of the state.
The projects range from four to eight hours of storage duration and were selected from 46 eligible proposals representing approximately 6 GW of capacity. Once operational, the portfolio will more than double the utility-scale energy storage capacity currently operating in New York State.
2. Premier Energies and RCT India Plan 12 GWh BESS Manufacturing Facility
Premier Energies and RCT India announced plans to establish a 12 GWh battery energy storage manufacturing facility in Telangana, strengthening India's rapidly developing domestic energy storage supply chain.
The manufacturing project is planned in phases, beginning with 6 GWh of annual production capacity. The facility is intended to manufacture battery energy storage solutions for domestic and international markets, adding another large-scale production platform to India's growing storage industry.
3. China Reportedly Pauses Approvals for New Battery Storage Factories
China reportedly introduced a temporary suspension of approvals for new battery energy storage manufacturing projects in September. The development is particularly significant because China is the world's largest manufacturing base for batteries used in stationary energy storage systems.
The reported pause draws attention to the rapid expansion of manufacturing capacity across the battery industry and the growing importance of maintaining a sustainable balance between production capacity and market demand. Existing projects already under development were not presented as part of the reported suspension.
4. UK Proposes Financial Commitment for Oversubscribed BESS Grid Queue
UK energy regulator Ofgem launched a consultation on a proposed financial commitment mechanism for battery energy storage projects seeking grid connections. The measure is intended to discourage speculative or less-developed projects from occupying limited positions within Britain's electricity connection queue.
Ofgem reported that around 90 GW of battery capacity was either operational or included in the reformed connections queue, compared with a projected requirement of approximately 29 GW by 2035. The proposed mechanism could therefore help release grid capacity for storage and other electricity projects that are more likely to proceed.
5. Australia Reports Record Growth in Household Battery Storage
Australia's Clean Energy Council reported record growth in residential battery storage, with 276,011 home batteries installed during the first half of 2026. This was 52% higher than the previous six-month period and represented approximately 153 battery installations for every 100 new rooftop solar systems.
The rapid expansion of behind-the-meter storage demonstrates how battery deployment is extending beyond utility-scale projects into the distributed electricity system. Growing fleets of household batteries can increase local use of rooftop solar generation and create additional opportunities for coordinated operation through virtual power plants.
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| Major energy storage market, manufacturing and industry developments worldwide – September 2026. |
Energy Storage Technology and Innovation
Energy storage innovation in September 2026 extended beyond increasing battery capacity, with developers advancing new battery chemistries, alternative cell architectures, mechanical storage, and multi-day energy storage concepts. The month's developments illustrate how different technologies are being engineered for applications ranging from high-power cycling and industrial energy management to long-duration grid support.
1. HiTHIUM Unveils 4 MWh Sodium-Ion BESS with 785 Ah Cell
HiTHIUM unveiled its ∞Power N4.0MWh sodium-ion energy storage system, built around the company's new ∞Cell N785Ah sodium-ion cell. The system is designed for storage durations ranging from two to eight hours and is scheduled to enter full-scale production and delivery in 2027.
HiTHIUM states that the 785 Ah cell is designed for 20,000 cycles at 70% state of health, while the complete system has a 30-year design life. The development represents another step toward commercial-scale sodium-ion storage as an alternative to conventional lithium-ion systems.
2. Qnetic Begins Testing 200 kWh Full-Scale Flywheel Storage System
Qnetic began integrated testing of Pulsar, its first full-scale 200 kWh flywheel energy storage prototype. The September testing programme marked the system's transition from component and assembly validation to operation as an integrated energy storage system.
Initial low-speed testing is evaluating the flywheel's control systems, safety systems, and power electronics before progressively increasing rotational speed. Qnetic reported that the prototype had completed its first 100 continuous charge-discharge cycles without faults or measured capacity degradation as development continues toward full-speed testing and independent evaluation.
3. Australia's First Grid-Connected Sodium-Sulfur Battery Begins Operation
Australia commissioned its first grid-connected sodium-sulfur battery energy storage system at Lava Blue's PRiSM facility in Queensland. The 250 kW / 1.45 MWh system uses NAS battery technology manufactured by NGK and connects to the local distribution network and Australia's National Electricity Market.
The battery is integrated with 200 kW of existing solar generation and can support energy-intensive industrial operations at the facility. With approximately six hours of storage capacity, the installation provides a practical demonstration of sodium-sulfur technology for longer-duration energy storage applications.
4. New Electrode Design Increases Battery Energy by 10–15%
Fraunhofer ISE and its research partners demonstrated a battery electrode architecture capable of storing 10–15% more energy at the same cell weight. The researchers achieved the improvement by substantially increasing electrode coating thickness while reducing the number of current collectors required inside the cell.
The concept was demonstrated in lithium-ion pouch cells manufactured using industry-standard processes and was also successfully applied to sodium-ion and zinc-ion cells. The approach could increase cell-level energy density without requiring an entirely new battery chemistry.
5. DIMAAG and Toshiba Develop LTO Storage for AI Data Centers
DIMAAG and Toshiba International Corporation announced a collaboration to develop high-power energy storage for AI data-center infrastructure using Toshiba's SCiB lithium titanium oxide battery technology and DIMAAG's active-flow immersion-cooled battery architecture.
The proposed architecture targets continuous 10C charge and discharge cycling and more than ten years of service life. The companies are developing the system for demanding applications including load smoothing, low-voltage ride-through, backup power, demand response, and grid stabilization.
6. UK Advances 300 MW / 55 GWh Compressed-Air Storage Project
EnergyPathways advanced development of the Marram Energy Storage Hub in the United Kingdom during September, including the appointment of Jacobs to support planning and consenting activities. The project includes a compressed-air energy storage facility using underground salt caverns beneath the East Irish Sea.
The planned long-duration storage facility is rated at approximately 300 MW / 55 GWh with more than 100 hours of storage. Its operating duration places it in a fundamentally different range from conventional battery systems and demonstrates the potential role of geological storage for multi-day electricity-system flexibility.
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| Emerging energy storage technologies and innovation highlights – September 2026. |
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Summary
September 2026 highlighted the continuing expansion of energy storage across electricity systems worldwide. Major battery projects advanced through commercial operation, construction, investment, equipment delivery, and commissioning, demonstrating the growing role of storage in grid stability, renewable energy integration, and transmission support.
At the industry level, new procurement programmes and manufacturing investments showed continued market growth, while developments in China and the United Kingdom also reflected emerging challenges related to manufacturing capacity and grid connections. Rapid growth in distributed battery installations further demonstrated how storage is expanding beyond utility-scale applications.
Technology developments during the month extended from sodium-ion and sodium-sulfur batteries to flywheel systems, advanced electrode designs, high-power LTO storage, and compressed-air energy storage. Together, these developments show an increasingly diverse storage sector designed to address different requirements for power, duration, cycling, and long-term grid flexibility.
FAQs
Q1: What were the major energy storage developments in September 2026?
A1: September 2026 included major utility-scale battery project milestones, new storage manufacturing investments, large procurement programmes, and advances in sodium-ion, sodium-sulfur, flywheel, LTO, and compressed-air energy storage technologies.
Q2: What was the largest energy storage development highlighted in September 2026?
A2: Among the projects covered in this update, Saudi Arabia's three planned battery energy storage projects have the largest combined capacity at 1.5 GW / 6 GWh. Each project is designed as a four-hour battery storage system.
Q3: Which emerging energy storage technologies advanced during September 2026?
A3: Developments included sodium-ion and sodium-sulfur batteries, flywheel storage, lithium titanium oxide batteries, advanced battery electrodes, and compressed-air energy storage, demonstrating the growing diversity of technologies being developed for different storage durations and operating requirements.
Q4: Why is long-duration energy storage important for renewable energy systems?
A4: Long-duration energy storage can store surplus electricity for extended periods and return it when generation is lower or demand is higher. This can improve grid flexibility and renewable energy integration, particularly as electricity systems incorporate larger shares of variable solar and wind generation.