United States solar electric power generation

A Decade of U.S. Solar Growth

Climate Central''s new report, A Decade of Growth in Solar and Wind Power, analyzed U.S. solar and wind energy data from 2014 to 2023 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Solar generation was 3% of U.S. electricity in 2020, but we

However, utility-scale solar generation increased substantially in the United States during the past decade as average construction costs for solar power plants fell. In our long-term projections, the electric power sector continues to produce the most solar generation, increasing from 68% of total solar generation in 2020 to 78% in 2050.

The State of the Solar Industry

• The United States installed 26 GW ac (33 GW dc) of PV in 2023—up 46% y/y. 13.2 1.5 3.9 Note: EIA reports values in W ac which is standard for utilities. The solar industry has traditionally reported in W dc. Sources: EIA, "Electric Power Monthly," forms EIA-023, EIA-826, and EIA-861 (March 2024, April 2022, February 2021, February

Short-Term Energy Outlook

Natural gas accounted for 39% of electric power sector electricity generation last year, and we forecast its share to be similar in 2023 then fall to 37% in 2024. Electricity generation from renewable energy sources has been growing steadily in

Solar generation was 3% of U.S. electricity in 2020, but

However, utility-scale solar generation increased substantially in the United States during the past decade as average construction costs for solar power plants fell. In our long-term projections, the electric power sector

Short-Term Energy Outlook

Natural gas accounted for 39% of electric power sector electricity generation last year, and we forecast its share to be similar in 2023 then fall to 37% in 2024. Electricity generation from renewable energy sources

Solar power in the United States

OverviewSolar potentialHistorySolar photovoltaic powerConcentrated solar power (CSP)Government supportSee alsoFurther reading

Solar power includes solar farms as well as local distributed generation, mostly on rooftops and increasingly from community solar arrays. In 2023, utility-scale solar power generated 164.5 terawatt-hours (TWh), or 3.9% of electricity in the United States. Total solar generation that year, including estimated small-scale photovoltaic generation, was 238 TWh.

Electricity generation, capacity, and sales in the United States

Electricity generation. In 2023, net generation of electricity from utility-scale generators in the United States was about 4,178 billion kilowatthours (kWh) (or about 4.18 trillion kWh). EIA estimates that an additional 73.62 billion kWh (or about 0.07 trillion kWh) were generated with small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Electricity generation, capacity, and sales in the United States

2 · Electricity generation. In 2023, net generation of electricity from utility-scale generators in the United States was about 4,178 billion kilowatthours (kWh) (or about 4.18 trillion kWh). EIA estimates that an additional 73.62 billion kWh (or about 0.07 trillion kWh) were generated with small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Solar power in the United States

Solar panels on a rooftop in New York City Community solar farm in the town of Wheatland, Wisconsin [1]. Solar power includes solar farms as well as local distributed generation, mostly on rooftops and increasingly from community