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UBS: AI Data Centres to Power Global Energy Storage Boom Over Next Five Years

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The surge in AI data centre power demand across the United States is set to trigger a “boom cycle” for energy storage over the next five years, according to a new report from UBS Securities.

UBS analyst Yan Yishu, speaking at a media briefing in Hong Kong, said global energy storage demand could grow 40% year-on-year in 2026, as the U.S. grid increasingly depends on batteries to manage fluctuations from wind and solar power.

“The demand for AI data centres in the U.S. is very robust, but electricity is the biggest bottleneck,” Yan said. As renewables remain the only U.S. power segment expected to expand significantly in the coming years, large-scale energy storage systems will be critical to balancing intermittent supply with rising consumption.

The U.S. remains a key market for Chinese energy storage firms, which hold about 20% market share there, drawn by high profit margins. However, Yan warned that President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which restricts Chinese participation in U.S. energy infrastructure, could pose serious risks to future exports.

Meanwhile, emerging markets including the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia are expected to record 30–50% growth rates or higher as renewable integration accelerates.

In China, policy reforms encouraging market-based electricity pricing are also driving new storage investments. Yan noted that a peak-to-valley price gap of 0.4 yuan ($0.06) per kWh is already enough to make standalone storage projects profitable. UBS expects provincial governments to introduce capacity payments, rewarding battery operators for availability during peak demand, further fueling growth.

Chinese battery stocks tumble after new export controls tighten grip on EV supply chain

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Chinese battery shares fell sharply on Friday after Beijing announced new export controls on lithium battery materials and technology, deepening its hold on a supply chain vital to global electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage industries.

The Ministry of Commerce said exporters of certain high-end lithium-ion batteries, cathode and graphite anode materials, and related technical know-how will now require permits starting November 8. The move follows China’s expanded restrictions on rare earths, escalating tensions with the United States ahead of a potential meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

Shares of major producers sank: CATL dropped 6.82%, Tianqi Lithium fell 7.17%, EVE Energy plunged nearly 11%, and BYD lost 2.54% by market close. China’s New Energy Vehicles Index slid 6.02%.

“The new controls drastically expand how much of the lithium battery supply chain China is staking a claim to,” said Cory Combs of Trivium China, warning that Beijing could slow or limit export licenses to maintain leverage.

Analysts at Zaoshang Securities argued the impact should be limited, saying the measures stop short of a ban and that past controls, such as those on natural graphite, caused no major export decline. Still, investors remain uneasy as the curbs come alongside tighter EV tax exemption rules, which could hit domestic demand.

Chinese companies such as CATL and BYD, which supply automakers worldwide and operate joint ventures like the Ford-CATL plant in the U.S., could face ripple effects across global supply chains as Washington and Beijing compete for dominance in critical materials.

US Startup Lyten Acquires Europe’s Largest Battery Storage Factory in Poland

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U.S.-based startup Lyten is set to take full ownership of Northvolt Dwa ESS, the largest energy storage systems (ESS) factory in Europe, marking a major expansion of its operations and product offerings. The announcement was made Tuesday as Lyten confirmed plans to restart operations at the Gdansk-based facility immediately.

The acquisition follows the bankruptcy of Swedish battery maker Northvolt’s energy storage division, which filed for insolvency in March. The failure, one of Sweden’s biggest corporate collapses, dashed hopes of developing a strong European competitor to dominant Chinese battery manufacturers. Northvolt had originally shut down the Polish plant in November 2023.

“We plan to immediately restart operations in Poland and deliver on existing and new customer orders,” said Dan Cook, Lyten’s CEO and co-founder.

The 25,000-square-meter facility, which first opened in 2023, houses advanced equipment for manufacturing battery energy storage systems (BESS). It currently supports 6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of manufacturing capacity, with the potential to scale up to 10 GWh, according to Lyten’s statement. The company added that it already holds contracted orders extending into 2026.

The move positions Lyten as a key player in the European clean energy storage market, where demand for grid-scale battery storage is rapidly growing. The acquisition also offers Lyten a strong foothold in the EU’s strategic push for energy independence and decarbonization.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but completion is expected in the third quarter of 2025.