Residential ESS surges +209% as non-China regions and Residential and Commercial ESS drive growth
According to global market research firm SNE Research, global lithium-ion (LiB) ESS shipments reached 195.5 GWh in Q1 2026, up 78% year-on-year from 109.9 GWh a year earlier. Growth was broad-based across all regions and applications, reflecting the structural expansion of the ESS market. The momentum is shifting rapidly, led by a +209% surge in residential ESS and strong growth across non-China regions.
1. Market Overview
The Q1 2026 global LiB ESS market posted broad-based growth across all regions. China, the largest market, reached 91.4 GWh (+52%) and still accounted for 47% of the market. In growth terms, however, Others (excl. China, N. America, Europe) was the fastest at +138%, followed by Europe (+107%) and North America (+83%). As a result, China's share declined from 54.7% to 46.7%, while the combined share of Europe, North America, and Others expanded.
By application, grid-scale storage (Grid) led the market, accounting for 75% of the total at 145.9 GWh. The most notable shift was the growth of the residential (Residential) ESS market: shipments rose from 6.7 GWh a year earlier to 20.6 GWh, and its share expanded from 6.1% to 10.6%. Commercial & industrial (C&I) ESS also grew 74% year on year, driving the expansion of ESS demand alongside residential.
(Source:
Global Quarterly ESS Shipment Tracker(26.1Q), SNE Research)
Regional Breakdown
|
Region |
'25.1Q |
'26.1Q |
YoY |
'25.1Q
M/S |
'26.1Q
M/S |
|
China |
60.1 |
91.4 |
+52% |
54.7% |
46.7% |
|
N.America |
17.9 |
32.7 |
+83% |
16.3% |
16.7% |
|
Europe |
14.3 |
29.5 |
+107% |
13.0% |
15.1% |
|
Others |
17.6 |
41.8 |
+138% |
16.0% |
21.4% |
|
Total |
109.9 |
195.5 |
+78% |
100% |
100% |
(Source: Global Quarterly ESS Shipment Tracker(26.1Q), SNE Research)
Application Breakdown
|
Application |
'25.1Q |
'26.1Q |
YoY |
'25.1Q
M/S |
'26.1Q
M/S |
|
Grid |
85.0 |
145.9 |
+72% |
77.4% |
74.6% |
|
C&I |
10.0 |
17.3 |
+74% |
9.1% |
8.8% |
|
Residential |
6.7 |
20.6 |
+209% |
6.1% |
10.6% |
|
Others |
8.2 |
11.7 |
+42% |
7.5% |
6.0% |
|
Total |
109.9 |
195.5 |
+78% |
100% |
100% |
2. Maker Trends
While all makers grew in absolute terms, the market-share landscape was substantially reshaped. CATL lifted its share from 26.9% to 29.9%, further strengthening its leadership. Hithium, by contrast, saw shipments flat year-on-year, with its share dropping sharply from 16.8% to 9.5% and falling to third place. CALB (+159%), BYD (+111%), AESC (+110%), and Great Power and LGES (each +253%) far outpaced the market average and expanded their shares.
The top tier remained
dominated by major Chinese battery makers led by CATL, while rapid growth among
emerging players drove active reshuffling in the mid-to-lower ranks. REPT (6th,
7.5%) and AESC (7th, 5.4%) formed the mid-tier, while Great Power and LGES
expanded their shares with growth rates well above the market average.
[Figure
2] Market share by maker ('25.1Q vs '26.1Q)
(Source:
Global Quarterly ESS Shipment Tracker(26.1Q), SNE Research)
|
Rank |
Maker |
'25.1Q
GWh |
'26.1Q
GWh |
'25.1Q
M/S |
'26.1Q
M/S |
Δ(%p) |
YoY |
|
1 |
CATL |
29.6 |
58.4 |
26.9% |
29.9% |
▲3.0 |
+98% |
|
2 |
EVE |
12.0 |
20.5 |
10.9% |
10.5% |
▼0.5 |
+70% |
|
3 |
Hithium |
18.5 |
18.6 |
16.8% |
9.5% |
▼7.4 |
+0% |
|
4 |
BYD |
8.4 |
17.7 |
7.6% |
9.1% |
▲1.4 |
+111% |
|
5 |
CALB |
5.7 |
14.8 |
5.2% |
7.6% |
▲2.4 |
+159% |
|
6 |
REPT |
7.8 |
14.6 |
7.1% |
7.5% |
▲0.4 |
+87% |
|
7 |
AESC |
5.0 |
10.5 |
4.6% |
5.4% |
▲0.8 |
+110% |
|
8 |
Gotion |
6.7 |
9.9 |
6.1% |
5.0% |
▼1.0 |
+48% |
|
9 |
Great Power |
2.6 |
9.1 |
2.3% |
4.6% |
▲2.3 |
+253% |
|
10 |
LGES |
1.5 |
5.3 |
1.4% |
2.7% |
▲1.3 |
+253% |
|
11 |
SDI |
2.2 |
3.0 |
2.0% |
1.5% |
▼0.5 |
+34% |
|
- |
Others |
10.0 |
13.3 |
9.1% |
6.8% |
▼2.3 |
+34% |
|
|
Total |
109.9 |
195.5 |
100% |
100% |
- |
+78% |
(Source: Global Quarterly ESS Shipment Tracker(26.1Q), SNE Research)
3. Market Share by Application
3-1. Grid
The grid-scale market (+72% YoY) is led by China's major cell makers. CATL took an overwhelming lead with a 33% share, followed by Hithium (12%), BYD (11%), EVE (10%), and CALB (9%). Reflecting the nature of large grid projects, concentration among the top players was high.
[Figure
3] Grid market share ('26.1Q)
(Source: Global Quarterly ESS Shipment Tracker(26.1Q), SNE Research)
3-2. Commercial and Industrial
In the C&I market (+74% YoY), CATL ranked first with a 37% share, followed by REPT (16%), BYD (9%), CALB (9%), and Gotion (6%). Even as the market grew +74%, some leading players saw their shares decline amid intensifying competition from new entrants.
[Figure
4] C&I market share ('26.1Q)
(Source: Global Quarterly ESS Shipment Tracker(26.1Q), SNE Research)
3-3. Residential
In the residential market, which surged +209% year-on-year, REPT ranked first with a 32% share, forming a top-three structure with EVE (26%) and Great Power (25%). As the fastest-growing application, residential ESS is led by REPT, EVE, and Great Power, forming a competitive landscape distinct from that of the grid-scale ESS market.
[Figure
5] Residential market share ('26.1Q)
(Source: Global Quarterly ESS Shipment Tracker(26.1Q), SNE Research)
4. Implications & Outlook
- Market growth is broadening beyond China to Europe, North America, and Others; on the application side, rapidly rising residential and commercial ESS demand is driving overall market growth
- In the residential ESS market, which grew by 209% YoY, REPT, EVE, and Great Power ranked among the leading players, highlighting a competitive landscape distinct from that of the grid-scale ESS market
- On the share front, CATL approached 30% and strengthened its dominance, while some leading players lost share by growing below the market average, reshaping the competitive landscape
Note: Figures are based on SNE Research's Q1 2026 ESS Tracker; totals may not sum exactly due to rounding. 'Others' represents the aggregate of remaining makers.