Investment in Solar + Battery Colocation is Growing
Although total global investment in renewable energy has fallen from its 2024 peak, segments of the market are still growing. Solar and battery colocation is a rapidly growing segment, with $25.1 billion invested in the first half of 2026, compared to $8.5 billion in the same period last year.
Spending on small-scale solar is also strong, with a global total of $119.5 billion in the first half of 2026, compared to $92.5 billion recorded six months ago.
These figures, reported by Canary Media on Friday, suggest that colocation, or the installation of solar batteries and solar panels alongside each other, will be crucial for the world’s energy future. And if you’re on Long Island, solar panels with a battery energy storage system could secure your energy future, too.
Combining Solar with Battery Energy Storage Makes Savings More Consistent
The grid can’t run entirely from solar, but it can store solar energy during the day and deploy it during peak demand periods. California proved it was possible when it produced over half its electricity from solar in May of this year.
At a high level, the process is simple.
Solar Panels Generate Electricity During the Day > Excess is Stored in Batteries > Batteries Deploy Electricity in the Evenings
It works on a grid scale as well as in private homes. California’s efficient grid doesn’t mean much to us here on Long Island, where we pay some of the highest electricity bills in the nation. However, the underlying concept is directly applicable.
- On Long Island, you can invest in solar panels with a battery backup system.
- Solar will power your home first during the day.
- Excess is stored by your battery (usually something like a Tesla Powerwall 3 or Generac PWRcell 2).
- You can then use the battery at peak times to avoid PSEG-LI’s higher time-of-day rates.
- This maximizes savings from your solar panels, even in the afternoon and early evening hours when they stop producing.
Beyond the savings, there’s an additional benefit. A battery system can provide backup power if the grid goes down. Your home will isolate itself from the network, and your lights and appliances will keep running.
Install Residential Solar with Battery Backup or Add a Battery to Your Existing System
If you’re ready to start from the ground up, Power Solutions, one of Long Island’s most trusted solar contractors, is ready to prepare your free estimate. We will also conduct an energy savings evaluation to see how much you could save with solar panels and a battery. After an on-site survey of your roof and surrounding shade structures, we will prepare a detailed cost/benefit analysis.
If you already have solar panels, a battery energy storage system can be retrofitted. You could boost your savings and enjoy better reliability with backup power for emergencies.
Reach out to Power Solutions today. Request your free home solar estimate or call us now at (631) 348-0001.
