Clean Energy Spending Tracking Toward Record $180 Billion In 2026

Clean energy investment is on track for a record $180 billion in 2026 despite rollbacks to federal incentives, according to Crux’s State of Clean Energy Finance: 2026 Mid-Year Market Intelligence Report. Crux estimates clean energy capital spending reached $74 billion in the first half and projects growth toward $180 billion by year-end. The report also points to accelerating battery storage: utility-scale capacity rose to 52 GW after three years of about 70% average annual growth, with 8.3 GW added in the first six months of 2026 alone. Grid operators have another 54 GW queued through 2028, while China holds roughly half of global capacity. Demand from data centers and AI is also cited as a driver.