From 1574a57ca6c049983f6036f68fef8cccf3f9c120 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FBumann <117816358+FBumann@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:14:47 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 1/7]   _style_area_as_bar() helper:   - Classifies traces by
 analyzing y-values: positive, negative, mixed, zero   - Sets
 stackgroup='positive' or stackgroup='negative' for proper separate stacking  
 - Mixed values shown as dashed lines (no fill)   - Opaque fills, no line
 borders, hv line shape
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

  Performance:
  ┌────────────────────────┬───────┐
  │         Method         │ Time  │
  ├────────────────────────┼───────┤
  │ .plotly.bar() + update │ 0.14s │
  ├────────────────────────┼───────┤
  │ .plotly.area() + style │ 0.10s │
  ├────────────────────────┼───────┤
  │ Speedup                │ ~1.4x │
  └────────────────────────┴───────┘
---
 flixopt/statistics_accessor.py | 101 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 91 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
index 90ad875b7..cd9d4710c 100644
--- a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
+++ b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
@@ -145,6 +145,87 @@ def _reshape_time_for_heatmap(
     return result.transpose('timestep', 'timeframe', *other_dims)
 
 
+def _style_area_as_bar(fig: go.Figure) -> None:
+    """Style area chart traces to look like bar charts with proper pos/neg stacking.
+
+    Iterates over all traces in fig.data and fig.frames (for animations),
+    setting stepped line shape, removing line borders, making fills opaque,
+    and assigning stackgroups based on whether values are positive or negative.
+
+    Handles faceting + animation combinations by building color and classification
+    maps from trace names in the base figure.
+
+    Args:
+        fig: Plotly Figure with area chart traces.
+    """
+    import plotly.express as px
+
+    default_colors = px.colors.qualitative.Plotly
+
+    # Build color map and classify traces from base figure
+    # trace.name -> color, trace.name -> 'positive'|'negative'|'mixed'|'zero'
+    color_map: dict[str, str] = {}
+    class_map: dict[str, str] = {}
+
+    for i, trace in enumerate(fig.data):
+        # Get color
+        if hasattr(trace, 'line') and trace.line and trace.line.color:
+            color_map[trace.name] = trace.line.color
+        else:
+            color_map[trace.name] = default_colors[i % len(default_colors)]
+
+        # Classify based on y values
+        y_vals = trace.y
+        if y_vals is None or len(y_vals) == 0:
+            class_map[trace.name] = 'zero'
+        else:
+            y_arr = np.asarray(y_vals)
+            y_clean = y_arr[np.abs(y_arr) > 1e-9]
+            if len(y_clean) == 0:
+                class_map[trace.name] = 'zero'
+            else:
+                has_pos = np.any(y_clean > 0)
+                has_neg = np.any(y_clean < 0)
+                if has_pos and has_neg:
+                    class_map[trace.name] = 'mixed'
+                elif has_neg:
+                    class_map[trace.name] = 'negative'
+                else:
+                    class_map[trace.name] = 'positive'
+
+    def style_trace(trace: go.Scatter) -> None:
+        """Apply bar-like styling to a single trace."""
+        # Look up color by trace name
+        color = color_map.get(trace.name, default_colors[0])
+
+        # Look up classification
+        cls = class_map.get(trace.name, 'positive')
+
+        # Set stackgroup based on classification (positive and negative stack separately)
+        if cls in ('positive', 'negative'):
+            trace.stackgroup = cls
+            trace.fillcolor = color
+            trace.line = dict(width=0, color=color, shape='hv')
+        elif cls == 'mixed':
+            # Mixed: show as dashed line, no stacking
+            trace.stackgroup = None
+            trace.fill = None
+            trace.line = dict(width=2, color=color, shape='hv', dash='dash')
+        else:  # zero
+            trace.stackgroup = None
+            trace.fill = None
+            trace.line = dict(width=0, color=color, shape='hv')
+
+    # Style main traces
+    for trace in fig.data:
+        style_trace(trace)
+
+    # Style animation frame traces
+    for frame in getattr(fig, 'frames', []) or []:
+        for trace in frame.data:
+            style_trace(trace)
+
+
 # --- Helper functions ---
 
 
@@ -1529,13 +1610,13 @@ def balance(
             unit_label = ds[first_var].attrs.get('unit', '')
 
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'balance')
-        fig = ds.plotly.bar(
+        fig = ds.plotly.area(
             title=f'{node} [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else node,
+            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
-        fig.update_layout(barmode='relative', bargap=0, bargroupgap=0)
-        fig.update_traces(marker_line_width=0)
+        _style_area_as_bar(fig)
 
         if show is None:
             show = CONFIG.Plotting.default_show
@@ -1653,13 +1734,13 @@ def carrier_balance(
             unit_label = ds[first_var].attrs.get('unit', '')
 
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'carrier_balance')
-        fig = ds.plotly.bar(
+        fig = ds.plotly.area(
             title=f'{carrier.capitalize()} Balance [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else f'{carrier.capitalize()} Balance',
+            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
-        fig.update_layout(barmode='relative', bargap=0, bargroupgap=0)
-        fig.update_traces(marker_line_width=0)
+        _style_area_as_bar(fig)
 
         if show is None:
             show = CONFIG.Plotting.default_show
@@ -2249,15 +2330,15 @@ def storage(
         else:
             color_kwargs = _build_color_kwargs(colors, flow_labels)
 
-        # Create stacked bar chart for flows
+        # Create stacked area chart for flows (styled as bar)
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'storage')
-        fig = flow_ds.plotly.bar(
+        fig = flow_ds.plotly.area(
             title=f'{storage} Operation ({unit})',
+            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
-        fig.update_layout(barmode='relative', bargap=0, bargroupgap=0)
-        fig.update_traces(marker_line_width=0)
+        _style_area_as_bar(fig)
 
         # Add charge state as line on secondary y-axis
         # Only pass faceting kwargs that add_line_overlay accepts

From d1497f127aeeb8b907d9c9187ce3a0cb66d145f5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FBumann <117816358+FBumann@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:30:40 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 2/7]   New Helper Functions
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

  # Iterate over all traces (main + animation frames)
  def _iter_all_traces(fig: go.Figure):
      yield from fig.data
      for frame in getattr(fig, 'frames', []) or []:
          yield from frame.data

  # Apply unified hover styling (works with any plot type)
  def _apply_unified_hover(fig: go.Figure, unit: str = '', decimals: int = 1):
      # Sets: <b>name</b>: value unit
      # + hovermode='x unified' + spike lines

  Updated Methods
  ┌───────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────────┐
  │      Method       │                   Changes                    │
  ├───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
  │ balance()         │ + _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label) │
  ├───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
  │ carrier_balance() │ + _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label) │
  ├───────────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────┤
  │ storage()         │ + _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label) │
  └───────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────────┘
  Result

  - Hover format: <b>Solar</b>: 45.3 kW
  - Hovermode: x unified (single tooltip for all traces)
  - Spikes: Gray vertical line at cursor
---
 flixopt/statistics_accessor.py | 64 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
 1 file changed, 57 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
index cd9d4710c..cfa0f9f68 100644
--- a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
+++ b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
@@ -145,6 +145,23 @@ def _reshape_time_for_heatmap(
     return result.transpose('timestep', 'timeframe', *other_dims)
 
 
+def _iter_all_traces(fig: go.Figure):
+    """Iterate over all traces in a figure, including animation frames.
+
+    Yields traces from fig.data first, then from each frame in fig.frames.
+    Useful for applying styling to all traces including those in animations.
+
+    Args:
+        fig: Plotly Figure.
+
+    Yields:
+        Each trace object from the figure.
+    """
+    yield from fig.data
+    for frame in getattr(fig, 'frames', []) or []:
+        yield from frame.data
+
+
 def _style_area_as_bar(fig: go.Figure) -> None:
     """Style area chart traces to look like bar charts with proper pos/neg stacking.
 
@@ -216,14 +233,38 @@ def style_trace(trace: go.Scatter) -> None:
             trace.fill = None
             trace.line = dict(width=0, color=color, shape='hv')
 
-    # Style main traces
-    for trace in fig.data:
+    # Style all traces (main + animation frames)
+    for trace in _iter_all_traces(fig):
         style_trace(trace)
 
-    # Style animation frame traces
-    for frame in getattr(fig, 'frames', []) or []:
-        for trace in frame.data:
-            style_trace(trace)
+
+def _apply_unified_hover(fig: go.Figure, unit: str = '', decimals: int = 1) -> None:
+    """Apply unified hover mode with clean formatting to any Plotly figure.
+
+    Sets up 'x unified' hovermode with spike lines and formats hover labels
+    as '<b>name</b>: value unit'.
+
+    Works with any plot type (area, bar, line, scatter).
+
+    Args:
+        fig: Plotly Figure to style.
+        unit: Unit string to append (e.g., 'kW', 'MWh'). Empty for no unit.
+        decimals: Number of decimal places for values.
+    """
+    unit_suffix = f' {unit}' if unit else ''
+    hover_template = f'<b>%{{fullData.name}}</b>: %{{y:.{decimals}f}}{unit_suffix}<extra></extra>'
+
+    # Apply to all traces (main + animation frames)
+    for trace in _iter_all_traces(fig):
+        trace.hovertemplate = hover_template
+
+    # Layout settings for unified hover
+    fig.update_layout(
+        hovermode='x unified',
+        xaxis_showspikes=True,
+        xaxis_spikecolor='gray',
+        xaxis_spikethickness=1,
+    )
 
 
 # --- Helper functions ---
@@ -1617,6 +1658,7 @@ def balance(
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
         _style_area_as_bar(fig)
+        _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label)
 
         if show is None:
             show = CONFIG.Plotting.default_show
@@ -1741,6 +1783,7 @@ def carrier_balance(
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
         _style_area_as_bar(fig)
+        _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label)
 
         if show is None:
             show = CONFIG.Plotting.default_show
@@ -2330,15 +2373,22 @@ def storage(
         else:
             color_kwargs = _build_color_kwargs(colors, flow_labels)
 
+        # Get unit label from flow data
+        unit_label = ''
+        if flow_ds.data_vars:
+            first_var = next(iter(flow_ds.data_vars))
+            unit_label = flow_ds[first_var].attrs.get('unit', '')
+
         # Create stacked area chart for flows (styled as bar)
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'storage')
         fig = flow_ds.plotly.area(
-            title=f'{storage} Operation ({unit})',
+            title=f'{storage} Operation [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else f'{storage} Operation',
             line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
         _style_area_as_bar(fig)
+        _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label)
 
         # Add charge state as line on secondary y-axis
         # Only pass faceting kwargs that add_line_overlay accepts

From 93e30cc7bd6d418035d63c7e9f782f86eca94970 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FBumann <117816358+FBumann@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:22:57 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 3/7]   1. _style_area_as_bar (lines 183-221): The class_map is
 now built by aggregating sign info across all traces returned by
 _iter_all_traces(fig), including animation frames.    The color_map is still
 derived from fig.data. The implementation uses a sign_flags dictionary to
 incrementally update has_pos/has_neg flags for each trace.name, then  
 computes class_map from those aggregated flags.   2. _apply_unified_hover
 (lines 271-274): Replaced the fig.update_layout(xaxis_showspikes=..., ...)
 with a single fig.update_xaxes(showspikes=True, spikecolor='gray',  
 spikethickness=1) call so spike settings apply to all x-axes (xaxis, xaxis2,
 xaxis3, ...) in faceted plots.

---
 flixopt/statistics_accessor.py | 58 +++++++++++++++++++---------------
 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-)

diff --git a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
index 90448fd51..11f80de4e 100644
--- a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
+++ b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
@@ -180,36 +180,45 @@ def _style_area_as_bar(fig: go.Figure) -> None:
 
     default_colors = px.colors.qualitative.Plotly
 
-    # Build color map and classify traces from base figure
-    # trace.name -> color, trace.name -> 'positive'|'negative'|'mixed'|'zero'
+    # Build color map from base figure traces
+    # trace.name -> color
     color_map: dict[str, str] = {}
-    class_map: dict[str, str] = {}
-
     for i, trace in enumerate(fig.data):
-        # Get color
         if hasattr(trace, 'line') and trace.line and trace.line.color:
             color_map[trace.name] = trace.line.color
         else:
             color_map[trace.name] = default_colors[i % len(default_colors)]
 
-        # Classify based on y values
+    # Classify traces by aggregating sign info across ALL traces (including animation frames)
+    # trace.name -> 'positive'|'negative'|'mixed'|'zero'
+    class_map: dict[str, str] = {}
+    sign_flags: dict[str, dict[str, bool]] = {}  # trace.name -> {'has_pos': bool, 'has_neg': bool}
+
+    for trace in _iter_all_traces(fig):
+        if trace.name not in sign_flags:
+            sign_flags[trace.name] = {'has_pos': False, 'has_neg': False}
+
         y_vals = trace.y
-        if y_vals is None or len(y_vals) == 0:
-            class_map[trace.name] = 'zero'
-        else:
+        if y_vals is not None and len(y_vals) > 0:
             y_arr = np.asarray(y_vals)
             y_clean = y_arr[np.abs(y_arr) > 1e-9]
-            if len(y_clean) == 0:
-                class_map[trace.name] = 'zero'
-            else:
-                has_pos = np.any(y_clean > 0)
-                has_neg = np.any(y_clean < 0)
-                if has_pos and has_neg:
-                    class_map[trace.name] = 'mixed'
-                elif has_neg:
-                    class_map[trace.name] = 'negative'
-                else:
-                    class_map[trace.name] = 'positive'
+            if len(y_clean) > 0:
+                if np.any(y_clean > 0):
+                    sign_flags[trace.name]['has_pos'] = True
+                if np.any(y_clean < 0):
+                    sign_flags[trace.name]['has_neg'] = True
+
+    # Compute class_map from aggregated sign flags
+    for name, flags in sign_flags.items():
+        has_pos, has_neg = flags['has_pos'], flags['has_neg']
+        if has_pos and has_neg:
+            class_map[name] = 'mixed'
+        elif has_neg:
+            class_map[name] = 'negative'
+        elif has_pos:
+            class_map[name] = 'positive'
+        else:
+            class_map[name] = 'zero'
 
     def style_trace(trace: go.Scatter) -> None:
         """Apply bar-like styling to a single trace."""
@@ -260,12 +269,9 @@ def _apply_unified_hover(fig: go.Figure, unit: str = '', decimals: int = 1) -> N
         trace.hovertemplate = hover_template
 
     # Layout settings for unified hover
-    fig.update_layout(
-        hovermode='x unified',
-        xaxis_showspikes=True,
-        xaxis_spikecolor='gray',
-        xaxis_spikethickness=1,
-    )
+    fig.update_layout(hovermode='x unified')
+    # Apply spike settings to all x-axes (for faceted plots with xaxis, xaxis2, xaxis3, etc.)
+    fig.update_xaxes(showspikes=True, spikecolor='gray', spikethickness=1)
 
 
 # --- Helper functions ---

From 30e4ba7602a8a9906ea9ac5e726d0538bfe8f72a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FBumann <117816358+FBumann@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:17:17 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 4/7] Update plotting deps

---
 pyproject.toml | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 0ebb15d99..ac39fd48a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ dependencies = [
     # Visualization
     "matplotlib >= 3.5.2, < 4",
     "plotly >= 5.15.0, < 7",
-    "xarray_plotly >= 0.0.3, < 1",
+    "xarray_plotly >= 0.0.10, < 1",
 ]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]

From 0d04aa8f726294c24f5b4abb6cc70c516a5b7045 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FBumann <117816358+FBumann@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:03:41 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 5/7] Update plotting deps and use xarray-plotly for fast_bar

---
 flixopt/statistics_accessor.py | 120 ++-------------------------------
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 114 deletions(-)

diff --git a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
index 11f80de4e..0fcdd6a6d 100644
--- a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
+++ b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 import pandas as pd
 import plotly.graph_objects as go
 import xarray as xr
+from xarray_plotly.figures import update_traces
 
 from .color_processing import ColorType, hex_to_rgba, process_colors
 from .config import CONFIG
@@ -146,108 +147,6 @@ def _reshape_time_for_heatmap(
     return result.transpose('timestep', 'timeframe', *other_dims)
 
 
-def _iter_all_traces(fig: go.Figure):
-    """Iterate over all traces in a figure, including animation frames.
-
-    Yields traces from fig.data first, then from each frame in fig.frames.
-    Useful for applying styling to all traces including those in animations.
-
-    Args:
-        fig: Plotly Figure.
-
-    Yields:
-        Each trace object from the figure.
-    """
-    yield from fig.data
-    for frame in getattr(fig, 'frames', []) or []:
-        yield from frame.data
-
-
-def _style_area_as_bar(fig: go.Figure) -> None:
-    """Style area chart traces to look like bar charts with proper pos/neg stacking.
-
-    Iterates over all traces in fig.data and fig.frames (for animations),
-    setting stepped line shape, removing line borders, making fills opaque,
-    and assigning stackgroups based on whether values are positive or negative.
-
-    Handles faceting + animation combinations by building color and classification
-    maps from trace names in the base figure.
-
-    Args:
-        fig: Plotly Figure with area chart traces.
-    """
-    import plotly.express as px
-
-    default_colors = px.colors.qualitative.Plotly
-
-    # Build color map from base figure traces
-    # trace.name -> color
-    color_map: dict[str, str] = {}
-    for i, trace in enumerate(fig.data):
-        if hasattr(trace, 'line') and trace.line and trace.line.color:
-            color_map[trace.name] = trace.line.color
-        else:
-            color_map[trace.name] = default_colors[i % len(default_colors)]
-
-    # Classify traces by aggregating sign info across ALL traces (including animation frames)
-    # trace.name -> 'positive'|'negative'|'mixed'|'zero'
-    class_map: dict[str, str] = {}
-    sign_flags: dict[str, dict[str, bool]] = {}  # trace.name -> {'has_pos': bool, 'has_neg': bool}
-
-    for trace in _iter_all_traces(fig):
-        if trace.name not in sign_flags:
-            sign_flags[trace.name] = {'has_pos': False, 'has_neg': False}
-
-        y_vals = trace.y
-        if y_vals is not None and len(y_vals) > 0:
-            y_arr = np.asarray(y_vals)
-            y_clean = y_arr[np.abs(y_arr) > 1e-9]
-            if len(y_clean) > 0:
-                if np.any(y_clean > 0):
-                    sign_flags[trace.name]['has_pos'] = True
-                if np.any(y_clean < 0):
-                    sign_flags[trace.name]['has_neg'] = True
-
-    # Compute class_map from aggregated sign flags
-    for name, flags in sign_flags.items():
-        has_pos, has_neg = flags['has_pos'], flags['has_neg']
-        if has_pos and has_neg:
-            class_map[name] = 'mixed'
-        elif has_neg:
-            class_map[name] = 'negative'
-        elif has_pos:
-            class_map[name] = 'positive'
-        else:
-            class_map[name] = 'zero'
-
-    def style_trace(trace: go.Scatter) -> None:
-        """Apply bar-like styling to a single trace."""
-        # Look up color by trace name
-        color = color_map.get(trace.name, default_colors[0])
-
-        # Look up classification
-        cls = class_map.get(trace.name, 'positive')
-
-        # Set stackgroup based on classification (positive and negative stack separately)
-        if cls in ('positive', 'negative'):
-            trace.stackgroup = cls
-            trace.fillcolor = color
-            trace.line = dict(width=0, color=color, shape='hv')
-        elif cls == 'mixed':
-            # Mixed: show as dashed line, no stacking
-            trace.stackgroup = None
-            trace.fill = None
-            trace.line = dict(width=2, color=color, shape='hv', dash='dash')
-        else:  # zero
-            trace.stackgroup = None
-            trace.fill = None
-            trace.line = dict(width=0, color=color, shape='hv')
-
-    # Style all traces (main + animation frames)
-    for trace in _iter_all_traces(fig):
-        style_trace(trace)
-
-
 def _apply_unified_hover(fig: go.Figure, unit: str = '', decimals: int = 1) -> None:
     """Apply unified hover mode with clean formatting to any Plotly figure.
 
@@ -264,9 +163,8 @@ def _apply_unified_hover(fig: go.Figure, unit: str = '', decimals: int = 1) -> N
     unit_suffix = f' {unit}' if unit else ''
     hover_template = f'<b>%{{fullData.name}}</b>: %{{y:.{decimals}f}}{unit_suffix}<extra></extra>'
 
-    # Apply to all traces (main + animation frames)
-    for trace in _iter_all_traces(fig):
-        trace.hovertemplate = hover_template
+    # Apply to all traces (main + animation frames) using xarray_plotly helper
+    update_traces(fig, hovertemplate=hover_template)
 
     # Layout settings for unified hover
     fig.update_layout(hovermode='x unified')
@@ -1648,13 +1546,11 @@ def balance(
             unit_label = ds[first_var].attrs.get('unit', '')
 
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'balance')
-        fig = ds.plotly.area(
+        fig = ds.plotly.fast_bar(
             title=f'{node} [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else node,
-            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
-        _style_area_as_bar(fig)
         _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label)
 
         if show is None:
@@ -1773,13 +1669,11 @@ def carrier_balance(
             unit_label = ds[first_var].attrs.get('unit', '')
 
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'carrier_balance')
-        fig = ds.plotly.area(
+        fig = ds.plotly.fast_bar(
             title=f'{carrier.capitalize()} Balance [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else f'{carrier.capitalize()} Balance',
-            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
-        _style_area_as_bar(fig)
         _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label)
 
         if show is None:
@@ -2378,13 +2272,11 @@ def storage(
 
         # Create stacked area chart for flows (styled as bar)
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'storage')
-        fig = flow_ds.plotly.area(
+        fig = flow_ds.plotly.fast_bar(
             title=f'{storage} Operation [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else f'{storage} Operation',
-            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
-        _style_area_as_bar(fig)
         _apply_unified_hover(fig, unit=unit_label)
 
         # Add charge state as line on secondary y-axis

From 6fbf6b2638d72fa9d599778e135ffa33e446dea2 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FBumann <117816358+FBumann@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:30:10 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 6/7] Removed both redundant line_shape='hv' parameters -
 fast_bar() handles that internally

---
 flixopt/statistics_accessor.py | 2 --
 1 file changed, 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
index 536e55b30..55259b0ba 100644
--- a/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
+++ b/flixopt/statistics_accessor.py
@@ -1550,7 +1550,6 @@ def balance(
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'balance')
         fig = ds.plotly.fast_bar(
             title=f'{node} [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else node,
-            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )
@@ -1674,7 +1673,6 @@ def carrier_balance(
         _apply_slot_defaults(plotly_kwargs, 'carrier_balance')
         fig = ds.plotly.fast_bar(
             title=f'{carrier.capitalize()} Balance [{unit_label}]' if unit_label else f'{carrier.capitalize()} Balance',
-            line_shape='hv',
             **color_kwargs,
             **plotly_kwargs,
         )

From e91d937eaf16d9cd425151157c0e93d0732dd71c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: FBumann <117816358+FBumann@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2026 17:34:09 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 7/7] Update CHANGELOG.md

---
 CHANGELOG.md | 1 +
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 01165c249..4f8f8e128 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -301,6 +301,7 @@ fs.transform.cluster(
 
 - `FlowSystem.weights` returns `dict[str, xr.DataArray]` (unit weights instead of `1.0` float fallback)
 - `FlowSystemDimensions` type now includes `'cluster'`
+- `statistics.plot.balance()`, `carrier_balance()`, and `storage()` now use `xarray_plotly.fast_bar()` internally (styled stacked areas for better performance)
 
 ### 🗑️ Deprecated