Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are increasingly being positioned as essential infrastructure investments rather than purely financial assets, as seen in a series of strategic partnerships announced in late September that integrate storage with broader energy and digital infrastructure strategies.
Update 2 October 2026: The financial impact of the write-down to Wärtsilä’s full-year 2026 is expected to be significantly less than initially communicated.
Three US utilities, Ameren Missouri, DTE Energy in Michigan, and Black Hills Energy in Colorado have recently submitted IRPs with highlighted BESS project additions.