1. Solar provided the largest share of new U.S. electrical generating capacity for the sixth consecutive month, with 83.6% of new capacity in February.
2. Solar’s share of total available installed utility-scale generating capacity has increased to 8.21%, surpassing hydropower.
3. FERC projects that solar capacity will continue to grow rapidly, potentially surpassing wind and coal capacities within three years.
Solar energy has continued to dominate as the primary source of new U.S. electrical generating capacity for the sixth consecutive month, according to data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In February, solar accounted for 83.64% of new capacity, with wind also experiencing significant growth. Natural gas lagged behind with minimal increases in capacity.
The total share of installed utility-scale solar capacity has now reached 8.21%, surpassing hydropower. Wind currently holds 11.77% of generating capacity, with all renewables combined accounting for 29.30%. Solar has moved into fourth place, behind natural gas, coal, and wind, after surpassing nuclear power.
FERC’s projections indicate substantial growth in solar capacity over the next three years, potentially exceeding that of both wind and coal. The increase in solar capacity is expected to contribute significantly to the overall share of renewable energy in the U.S., approaching that of natural gas.
Despite FERC’s conservative forecasts, the actual increase in solar capacity has consistently exceeded expectations. When considering both distributed and utility-scale solar capacity, the total share of solar energy in the U.S. could be closer to 12.0%, with further growth anticipated. This trend suggests that renewable energy, led by solar, could soon rival or surpass natural gas as a leading source of generating capacity in the nation.