- Global energy storage system (ESS) shipments surged to 286.35 GWh in the first three quarters of 2025, an 84.7% year-on-year increase, according to new data from InfoLink’s global energy-storage supply-chain database.
- The sector exceeded 100 GWh of shipments in a single quarter for the first time in Q3, underscoring the acceleration of international deployment across utility-scale and residential markets.
Despite rapid expansion, market concentration remained relatively high. The top ten suppliers (CR10) held around 60% of global shipments, indicating that while a leading cohort has clearly emerged, no single manufacturer has pulled decisively ahead. Across all system types, the top five suppliers were Tesla, Sungrow, BYD, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute and Huawei.
Competition at the top end of the market is intensifying. InfoLink reports “fierce” rivalry among the top three players, whose internal rankings have continued to shift and are expected to do so through 2026. At the same time, emerging markets are gaining strategic importance. Major suppliers have expanded their presence in these regions and secured sizeable orders, helping push shipment growth in emerging markets beyond that of traditional centres such as China and the US. InfoLink suggests that manufacturers relying too heavily on a single core market may find it increasingly difficult to maintain leadership.
The Asian supply chain remains a competitive battleground. US players including Tesla and Fluence have established system-integration facilities in Asia, a move likely to narrow their cost gap with Chinese suppliers and potentially stabilise their future market share. Meanwhile, the line between PV and storage suppliers continues to blur. Leading solar manufacturers are moving deeper into ESS integration, with Canadian Solar entering the global top ten on the strength of its North American position. Trina Solar and JinkoSolar are also expanding rapidly and could challenge established ESS leaders as early as 2026.
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Utility-scale projects remain the primary driver of global demand. Shipments reached 252.5 GWh in the first three quarters of 2025. Market concentration fell slightly, with CR5 easing to 47.3%, a sign of growing competition. The top five utility-scale suppliers were Sungrow, BYD, Tesla, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute and HyperStrong, with BYD overtaking Tesla for second place in Q3. For the full year, Sungrow, BYD and Tesla are viewed as frontrunners for the top global utility-scale supplier position.
The residential ESS segment also maintained strong momentum. Global shipments reached 26.6 GWh for the January–September period, with Q3 volumes nearing 10 GWh. Tesla, Huawei, BYD, Pylontech and Deye led the market, and CR5 rose to 50.9%, about three percentage points higher than in the previous quarter, reflecting the widening gap between leading brands and smaller competitors.
Looking ahead, InfoLink forecasts that global ESS shipments will approach 400 GWh in 2025, representing roughly 60% annual growth, and could rise to around 600 GWh in 2026. However, the consultancy warns that mounting upstream and midstream price pressures may test the ability of system integrators to manage costs, secure manufacturing capacity and protect margins in an increasingly competitive environment.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
