Distributed Storage

India-based energy storage company GoodEnough Energy sazs it has commissioned a 7 GWh battery energy storage system (BESS) factory in Noida, with plans to expand capacity to more than 25 GWh over the next three years.

Iola Hughes, Head of Research at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, tells ESS News that 2026 is set to be another strong year for BESS, with forecast additions exceeding 450 GWh and no material supply constraints in sight. Meanwhile, the initial impact of rising lithium prices is already visible at the cell level, but the full effect has yet to ripple through to system pricing.

WFES 2026 in Abu Dhabi underscored growing momentum for solar, storage, and C&I renewables across MENA, with batteries emerging as a key enabler for grid stability, agriculture, and data centers. Industry leaders pointed to Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia as key growth markets, highlighting rising interest in AI-driven data centers, solar-plus-storage solutions, and a broadening regional supply chain.

Four agencies told 16 leading firms to rein in irrational competition as China tightens oversight of power and storage batteries.

US-based Copeland has launched its Sensi Hydro sanitary water heat pump designed to provide energy-efficient hot water for hotels, commercial buildings, and public facilities. The units feature ZW scroll compressors, independent refrigerant circuits, and backup mode to ensure reliable hot water supply.

The Polish Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Association (PSFiME) says proposed changes to Poland’s energy law could impose high upfront costs on developers, raising market entry barriers and unfairly favouring large, well-capitalized players.

Czechia’s solar market slowed in 2025, largely due to a downturn in residential deployments. The country’s solar association says that while it remains to be seen if the rate of installations will pick up this year, significant growth is expected in the storage market.

With lithium prices reaching a two-year high in early 2026, sodium-ion batteries are once again in the spotlight, as innovators on both sides of the Atlantic announce major milestones.

SoftBank Group is piloting AI-controlled cellular base stations powered by solar panels and a 3 kW wind turbine to reduce energy use while maintaining service quality. The system stores excess power in batteries and can automatically switch to the grid when needed.

Axinar has launched SolBox, a direct PV water heating system that powers electric resistance accumulators without thermal collectors. It’s designed for homes and businesses, offering real-time monitoring, MPPT optimization, and automatic grid backup.