Strong deployment figures have been posted for the US’ energy storage market in both residential and non-residential segments in the past quarter, amid warnings that an escalating trade war with China could dampen some of that enthusiasm if tariffs are applied.

Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, formerly known as GTM Research, found that non-residential energy storage in the US enjoyed its largest single quarter ever in Q1 2019, with residential storage registering its second-biggest. The firm issued its second quarter 2019 US energy storage monitor last week, published in association with the national Energy Storage Association.

Meanwhile, as the Energy Storage Association’s CEO Kelly Speakes-Backman applauded the report’s findings as evidence 2019 will be a “banner year for energy storage”, analysis firm S&P Global Platts warned that any deterioration in US-China relations that results in high tariffs being imposed on Chinese imported goods could have a significant bearing on the stationary energy storage market.