Volts The big stories from the last year in electricity
18 snips
Apr 22, 2026 
Kostantsa Rangelova, Ember analyst focused on batteries and solar deployment. Nicolas Fulghum, Ember analyst tracking global power trends and renewable rollout. They cover record-breaking solar growth, the rising role of batteries shifting midday sun to evening, whether global fossil generation has plateaued, and why India might avoid a coal-heavy path.
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Batteries Are Catching Up To Solar Growth
- Batteries scaled enough in 2025 to materially shift new solar to evenings: global battery additions reached 250 GWh, up 45% year‑on‑year.
- That capacity could shift ~14% of the daily additional solar generation, up from 5% in 2022.
Chile And Australia Show Batteries Unlock Solar Value
- Country examples show outsized battery impact: in 2025 Chile's new batteries could capture 76% of that year's additional solar and Australia 53%.
- Shifting >50% of new solar prevents midday peak growth by moving energy into evening shoulder hours.
Battery Pack Prices Plummeted In 2025
- Battery pack prices plunged ~45% in 2025 to about $70/kWh, accelerating economics for storage projects worldwide.
- Rapid pack-cost declines make prior estimates of battery feasibility substantially conservative.