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| Author | InfoLink |
| Updated | May 22, 2026 |
InfoLink has released its global energy storage system (ESS) shipment ranking for 1Q26, based on shipment data from its global energy storage supply chain database.
In 1Q26, global ESS shipments reached 126.40 GWh, up 78.788% YoY, down 6.21% QoQ. In this quarter, residential storage provided strong shipment support, while markets outside China showed a broad-based regional growth, keeping overall market shipments at elevated levels.
Market remains in transition, with competitive landscape far from settled
In 1Q26, the top five global ESS suppliers by shipment volume were BYD, Sungrow, Huawei, Tesla, and CRRC Zhuzhou Institute. In terms of market concentration, the CR5 stood at 41.38%, while the CR10 reached 58.07%, suggesting that the market is in an intermediate stage: leading players are beginning to consolidate, mid-tier players are racing to catch up, and smaller fringe players are gradually being marginalized. Meanwhile, with the market still in a high-growth phase, competition continues to center on capturing incremental demand rather than displacing existing market share. As a result, competition remains intense, but the industry has not yet tipped into clearly destructive price-war dynamics.
*Source: InfoLink’s Global Energy Storage Supply Chain Database
*InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies with official data.
*The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise.
Key market themes for 1Q26: reshuffling and core markets.
- Reshuffling: In 1Q26, BYD topped the ranking for the first time, Huawei entered the top three, and Tesla temporarily dropped out of the top-three lineup, temporarily disrupting the previous structure dominated by the three leading players. Based on 2026 shipment expectations, however, BYD, Sungrow, and Tesla will remain strong contenders for the top three.
- Core markets: Core markets remain a key springboard for manufacturers seeking to move into the industry’s top tier, with three broad paths available. The first is deep regional cultivation: establishing leadership in key geographic markets, as seen with BYD in the Middle East, CRRC in China, and Tesla in the U.S. The second is securing anchor customers, though this path remains relatively difficult, as the project-based nature of the energy storage market results in relatively weak customer stickiness. The third is entering high-end markets first, then leveraging advantages in technology and profitability to expand into mid- to low-end markets. Overall, regardless of the path taken, the underlying logic is the same: establish localized competitive barriers ahead of competitors, then gradually translate them into a larger global market share.
Utility-scale storage remains the main growth driver, as top-tier dynamics shift beneath the surface
In 1Q26, global utility-scale ESS shipments reached 103.70 GWh, up 60.78% YoY and down 15.42% QoQ. The top five ESS integrators were BYD, Sungrow, Huawei, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, and Tesla, with Tesla dropping to fifth place. CR5 stood at 44.94%.
*Note: Starting in 2026, the utility-scale storage ranking will release top-five results for Q1 and Q3, and top-ten results for the half-year and full-year periods.
*InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies with official data.
*The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise.
Residential storage enters a boom phase, reshuffling the market landscape
In 1Q26, global residential ESS shipments reached 20.67 GWh, up 392.17% YoY and 138.42% QoQ, posting explosive growth. The top five residential ESS integrators were Sigenergy, Fox ESS, Deye, Tesla, and Huawei. The top three positions saw a complete reshuffle in Q1, with each player’s shipments exceeding 2 GWh.
In 2026, shipments in Australia are expected to remain at high levels, while the European market is set for a broad-based recovery. Residential ESS shipments are likely to sustain high growth over the next several quarters, and suppliers with strong positions in Australia and Europe will continue to shake up the competitive landscape.
*Note: Starting in 2026, the residential energy storage ranking will release top-five results for Q1 and Q3, and top-ten results for the half-year and full-year periods.
*InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies with official data.
*The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise.
Based on manufacturers’ current shipment progress and annual shipment guidance, InfoLink maintains its 2026 global ESS shipment forecast at 600 GWh, with the market projected to sustain high growth. In addition, as the global market continues to show synchronized growth across multiple regions, manufacturers are advised to strengthen supply chain management while continuing to expand their presence in emerging markets outside China.
On data sources
The shipment volumes, rankings, and related information presented in this article are based on data verification through regular interviews with upstream and downstream industry players. For companies that did not proactively provide data, InfoLink has made reasonable estimates based on actual market research.
InfoLink strives for information comprehensiveness, but manufacturers' official data shall prevail in case of any discrepancies.
Disclaimer
The content of this article is provided solely as a reference for market analysis and trend assessment, and does not constitute any endorsement, evaluation, investment advice, or commercial guarantee regarding any enterprise. Shipment data and rankings are not necessarily based on information proactively provided by companies; some are derived from third-party sources or InfoLink’s proprietary model estimates.
In the event of any disagreement over the data, the manufacturer’s official disclosure shall prevail. InfoLink reserves the right of final interpretation and explanation of the data sources and research results. Without authorization, no third party may extract or reproduce this content for commercial purposes or quote it in a misleading manner.
