The global battery energy storage market is entering a historic growth phase in 2026, defined by projects of unprecedented scale. Worldwide, 126.40 GWh of storage was deployed in the first quarter of 2026, up 54% from last year, and the pipeline for the full year already exceeds 350 GWh.

The largest upcoming BESS projects in the world are led by the 42 GWh Australia-Asia Power Link BESS by Sun Cable in Australia, followed by the 19 GWh Al Azeezah Battery Energy Storage System being developed by Masdar and EWEC in Abu Dhabi. 

India’s Green Energy Corridor Phase II project in Ladakh includes a planned 12 GWh storage component, while Grenergy’s Oasis de Atacama project in Chile targets 11 GWh of storage across multiple phases. In the United States, Intersect Power’s Darden Clean Energy Project in California will add 4.6 GWh of battery storage capacity.

This article takes a closer look at the latest top 5 upcoming battery energy storage projects in the world in 2026. We’ll break down their scale, locations, and significance while exploring how they fit into the broader transformation of global energy systems.

List of Top 5 Largest Upcoming Battery Energy Storage Projects in the World 2026 (according to capacity)

Australia-Asia Power Link BESS

SunCable is developing the Australia-Asia Power Link BESS as part of its large renewable energy project in the Northern Territory of Australia. The project includes a solar farm spread across 12,000 hectares between Elliot and Tennant Creek in the Barkly region, supported by a battery energy storage system planned near Powell Creek. 

The project, the largest upcoming BESS in Australia, will also include an 800-kilometer HVDC transmission line linking the solar and battery facilities to Darwin under the DarwinLink section of the development.

SunCable plans to export up to 1.75 GW of renewable electricity from Darwin to Singapore through a 4,300-kilometer subsea cable network called SingaporeLink. The project has gone through major changes since its launch in 2019. In 2024, the company reduced the scale of the original proposal, which had included a 17 to 20 GW solar farm and up to 42 GWh of battery storage. 

Despite earlier financial and administrative challenges, the project regained momentum after Grok Ventures took control in 2023. The Federal Government renewed the project’s Major Project Status in July 2025, while Singapore granted conditional approval for green electricity imports in late 2024.

Al Azeezah Battery Energy Storage System

The Al Azeezah Battery Energy Storage System forms the backbone of the UAE’s new 24-hour renewable power project announced by Masdar in Abu Dhabi. The project combines a 5.2 GW solar photovoltaic plant with a massive 19 GWh battery energy storage system to deliver 1 GW of continuous baseload electricity around the clock. 

Located about 50 kilometers south of the planned Zarraf solar PV plant, the development will cover nearly 90 square kilometers and is expected to begin operations in 2027. Industry estimates place the project cost at around USD 6 billion, making it one of the largest clean energy investments in the region.

Once operational, the project will complement the UAE’s 5.6 GW Barakah nuclear power plant as another source of low-carbon baseload energy. The development also supports the country’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy and wider plans to expand renewable energy capacity to 18 GW by 2035.

In May 2026, Sungrow signed an agreement with Masdar and EWEC to supply 7.5 GWh of PowerTitan 3.0 battery energy storage systems and 2.6 GW of photovoltaic inverter solutions.

Green Energy Corridor Phase II - Ladakh BESS

The Ladakh Battery Energy Storage System is part of India’s Green Energy Corridor Phase-II Inter-State Transmission System project approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. The project includes plans to develop 13 GW of renewable energy capacity in Ladakh along with a 12,000 MWh battery energy storage system to support grid stability and reliable power evacuation. 

The transmission network will connect Ladakh to the national grid through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab up to Kaithal in Haryana. POWERGRID will implement the project because of the region’s difficult terrain, harsh climate, and strategic importance. Authorities plan to complete the project by FY 2029-30 at an estimated transmission cost of Rs. 20,773.70 crore, supported by 40 percent central financial assistance.

The project will deploy advanced Voltage Source Converter-based HVDC technology and Extra High Voltage AC systems to transfer renewable power across long distances. Plans include 713 kilometers of transmission infrastructure, including a 480-kilometre HVDC line, along with 5 GW HVDC terminals at Pang in Ladakh and Kaithal in Haryana. 

The BESS component will help manage renewable energy fluctuations and improve power reliability for Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir through links to existing regional transmission lines. The development supports India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity by 2030 while creating jobs and strengthening long-term energy security.

Oasis de Atacama (all phases, incl. Phase 6 "Elena")

The Oasis de Atacama Battery Energy Storage System is one of the largest solar and BESS developments under construction in Latin America. Developed by Grenergy in northern Chile, the project combines up to 2 GW of solar generation with 11 GWh of battery storage across seven phases. 

The project is designed to deliver round-the-clock renewable electricity and reduce carbon emissions in Chile’s energy market. Several phases have already attracted major international investors through asset sales and partnerships. 

Phases 1, 2, and 3, which include Quillagua 1 and 2 and Víctor Jara, combine 451 MW of solar capacity with 2.5 GWh of storage and operate in partnership with ContourGlobal. Phase 4, known as Gabriela, adds 272 MW of solar power and 1.1 GWh of storage under infrastructure funds managed by CVC.

Phase 6, called Elena, stands out as the flagship section of the megaproject. Located more than 3,000 meters above sea level, Elena includes 446 MW of photovoltaic capacity and 3.5 GWh of battery storage capacity. Grenergy selected BYD to supply 624 MC Cube T battery containers for the project, making it one of the largest battery supply agreements in the region. 

The company also secured USD 270 million in financing from SMBC, BNP Paribas, BBVA, and KfW to support the battery deployment. Construction and execution of Phase 6 have already been completed, and the site uses both solar generation and grid electricity to charge the large-scale storage system.

Darden Clean Energy Project

The Darden Clean Energy Project is emerging as one of the largest solar-plus-storage developments in California. Located on 9,500 acres in western Fresno County, the project combines a 1,150 MW solar facility with a 4,600 MWh battery energy storage system owned by IP Darden I, a subsidiary of Intersect Power. 

The solar plant will use nearly 3.1 million panels and will be built on land considered unsuitable for agricultural use. The California Energy Commission approved the project through the state’s Opt-In Certification program, which streamlines permitting for large clean energy developments that support California’s target of achieving 100 percent zero-carbon retail electricity sales by 2045.

As of May 2026, Intersect Power is preparing to begin construction on the project following earlier reports about its development progress. The project is expected to create more than 2,000 prevailing-wage construction jobs and generate an estimated USD 169 million in local economic benefits over 35 years. 

Intersect Power is also committed to USD 2 million in community investments over the next decade. The battery storage system will play a key role in supporting grid reliability by storing solar power for use during periods of high demand. The project moves forward as California strengthens safety standards for utility-scale battery systems through updated fire codes and expanded oversight for grid-scale energy storage operations.

Conclusion

Battery energy storage projects are becoming critical infrastructure for modern power systems, and 2026 is shaping up as a defining year for large-scale deployment. Major developments such as the 42 GWh Australia-Asia Power Link BESS in Australia, the 19 GWh Al Azeezah project in the UAE, and the 12 GWh Ladakh BESS in India highlight the growing scale of storage investments worldwide. 

Projects like Chile’s 11 GWh Oasis de Atacama and California’s 4.6 GWh Darden Clean Energy Project also show how storage is supporting round-the-clock renewable power and grid reliability. As developers, including Sun Cable, Masdar, Grenergy, POWERGRID, and Intersect Power, move these projects toward completion, utility-scale BESS is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of the global energy transition.

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