Co-located solar and storage projects are now the fastest-growing type of power plant globally, driven by falling battery prices and policy support. In the first half of 2026, investment in these projects outside China reached $25bn, nearly triple the prior year. The US saw investment double to $14.8bn amid Biden-era tax credits.

A notable example is Cross Boundary Energy’s plant powering the Kamoa-Kakula mining complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo, combining 357,000 solar panels with 180 battery units to deliver 30 MW of firm baseload power for 95% of annual minutes. Chinese provincial rules initially pushed storage adoption to curb renewable waste, lowering battery costs worldwide. Advances by Chinese manufacturers now make co-located solar and storage cheaper than fossil fuels in many regions, per IRENA.

This trend reduces grid overload and negative pricing by storing surplus solar energy for later use, transforming solar from intermittent to reliable power.