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Enverus forecasts 1,080 GW US grid expansion led by 376 GW of battery storage

Enverus Intelligence Research projects the Lower 48 power fleet will grow from 1,435 GW in 2026 to 2,284 GW by 2050 on 1,080 GW of gross additions. Battery storage leads with 376 GW, ahead of solar at 241 GW, natural gas at 184 GW and onshore wind at 175 GW.

By Greener Numbers Editorial Team · Published October 21, 2026 · Updated 10/21/2026

A comprehensive long-term grid study released by Enverus Intelligence Research projects that the United States power system will require 1,080 gigawatts of gross capacity additions through 2050. Driven by accelerating commercial demand and electrification, the Lower 48 generation fleet is forecast to expand from 1,435 gigawatts in 2026 to 2,284 gigawatts by 2050 even after accounting for scheduled thermal plant retirements.

Battery energy storage represents the largest single technology addition in the forecast, accounting for 376 gigawatts of new deployment. Storage additions are expected to outpace utility-scale solar at 241 gigawatts, natural gas at 184 gigawatts, and onshore wind at 175 gigawatts. The heavy weighting toward battery assets reflects the imperative for regional grid operators to smooth intermittent renewable generation and handle steep net-load ramps.

Despite rapid storage buildout, firm dispatchable generation remains essential for system reliability across major industrial transmission zones. The analysis forecasts 184 gigawatts of new natural gas capacity, concentrated in PJM with 57 gigawatts, ERCOT with 36 gigawatts, MISO with 33 gigawatts, and the Southeast with 26 gigawatts. Advanced nuclear power is projected to scale after 2035, adding 57 gigawatts of new capacity.

Regional generation portfolios are poised to diverge dramatically across North America. By 2050, solar and wind are projected to represent 88 percent of installed capacity in the West and 81 percent in CAISO. In stark contrast, renewable resources are projected to make up only 18 percent of installed capacity in PJM and 14 percent in the Southeast. These sharp regional divides demonstrate that capital allocation, transmission bottlenecks, and localized fuel economics will dictate the future trajectory of American power infrastructure.

Official source: enverus.com ↗