How the AI boom has impacted US battery storage so far

The AI data center boom is reshaping the battery storage market, and some of that shift is starting to touch homeowners too. Big tech companies building data centers are pairing them with on-site batteries to handle power surges and keep backup generators running smoothly, and this demand is now spilling into the residential market as well.

The clearest sign: companies that manage power demand, like Voltus, are recruiting home batteries into "bring your own capacity" programs, where aggregated home batteries help supply power that would otherwise come from slow-to-build grid projects. Voltus has partnered with Octopus Energy and Sunrun to bring residential batteries into these deals. Separately, battery installers like Base Power and Sunrun are offering to install a home battery in exchange for controlling how it's used, which can qualify them for federal tax credits that are still available to businesses even though the residential battery credit expired last year. If you're considering a home battery, these programs are worth understanding, since they trade full control of your system for financing help or lower upfront costs.

Utilities are also testing other approaches. In New Jersey, Public Service Electric & Gas launched a program called GridSmart that helps pay for a home battery while letting the customer keep ownership. In return, PSE&G can tap the battery to reduce strain on the grid during peak demand periods. Programs like this vary by state and utility, so it's worth checking what's available where you live.