Solar power continues to grow year after year as more people install solar power systems on their homes and businesses. Of course, that trend isn’t a secret to most, but what many don’t know is that there’s recently been a significant shift in the solar power industry, with a rapid increase in solar energy storage. More and more solar users are opting to add solar batteries to their systems to store excess energy during the day for use at night. These are referred to as hybrid systems, or the less nuanced “solar-plus-storage.” Just how much has solar energy storage increased over the years, and what’s driving this trend? Keep reading to find out.
The Trend by the Numbers
In 2023, the number of hybrid solar power systems increased nearly 90% from the previous year. This set a new record for that segment of the solar sector, but it’s far from the only sign that solar-plus-storage is taking over. Globally, more than 32% of residential solar power systems added battery storage to their designs in 2024. Doesn’t sound like much to you? When you compare it to the 19% that integrated batteries in 2021, the growth is undeniable.
And, when you compare it to the first quarter of 2025, when it jumped from 32% to 38%, the trend is clear. Despite a slight reduction in overall solar installations, the percentage of hybrid installations has continued to rise, showing a sustained customer demand for these types of systems.
The Trend by the Causes
So what’s causing this increase in solar storage systems? Why are so many people now adding battery banks to their systems, even when the number of new solar installations is slowing? There are many possible factors that contribute to this, but here are the 3 primary ones that experts point to as the causes of this trend:
- Reliability and resilience: Unlike solar panels alone, solar batteries allow your system to store excess energy for use after sundown or during outages, a perk that’s incredibly valuable if you live in an area prone to grid outages. This reliability boost and increase in independence are core drivers behind many homeowners’ decision to adopt storage; in fact, the 2024 Solar Industry Survey showed backup power as a top reason users chose to add batteries.
- Policies and incentives: Government incentives have also played a big role in the trend. For example, investment tax credits now cover standalone energy storage, so solar-plus-storage systems are more affordable for homeowners. Changes to net metering policies in some states have also reduced the payouts for watts fed into the grid, making storing and using your own energy more cost-effective.
- Falling costs and rising efficiency: The cost of manufacturing solar batteries has declined sharply in recent years, and safer, more efficient batteries are simultaneously being put out. With improvements in technology and reductions in cost, a battery bank is a much more reasonable option for solar users nowadays.
If you’re interested in adding a solar battery bank to your system, make sure you install hybrid SMA solar invertersthat can support a battery connection.