Solar, wind, and battery storage are projected to add 62% more generating capacity in 2026 than in 2025, assuring that those sources provide virtually all net new generating capacity this year, according to a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data just released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Solar set new records in 2025
EIA’s latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through December 31, 2025), once again confirms that solar is the fastest-growing source of US electricity.
Utility-scale (>1 megawatt (MW)) solar thermal and photovoltaic generation expanded by 34.5% during 2025, while that from “estimated” small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar PV systems rose by 11.0% during 2025 compared to 2024.
The combination of utility-scale and small-scale solar increased by 28.0% and produced a bit under 9.0% (utility-scale: 6.54%; small-scale: 2.06%) of total US electrical generation last year, up from 6.9% a year earlier. Further, solar now accounts for 33.46% of US electrical generation by renewable energy sources.
Wind remains the top renewable energy source
Wind turbines across the US produced 10.3% of US electricity in 2025 – an increase of 2.8% compared to 2024. In December alone, wind-generated electricity was 19.0% greater than a year earlier.
In 2025, wind and utility-scale and small-scale solar generation increased by 12.9% and accounted for 18.9% of the US total, up from 17.2% in 2024.
Further, wind and solar combined provided 15.7% more electricity than did coal last year, and 8.7% more than nuclear power plants.
Renewables produced almost 26% of total US generation
The mix of all renewables (wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal) produced 9.6% more electricity in 2025 than a year earlier and accounted for 25.7% of total US electricity production, up from 24.1% 12 months earlier.
Renewables are now second only to natural gas in US electricity generation – and gas-fired output dropped 3.3% in 2025.
Solar, wind + storage will dominate again in 2026
In 2025, utility-scale solar capacity grew by 27,738.4 MW, while small-scale solar capacity increased by 6,277.4 MW. EIA forecasts continued strong solar growth, with 44,470.0 MW utility-scale solar capacity added by the end of 2026.
Utility-scale battery storage also experienced huge growth, increasing by 58.4% during the year and adding 15,775.1 MW of new capacity. EIA also notes that planned battery capacity additions during 2026 total 24,268.5 MW, a further increase of 56.7%.
In addition, wind made a strong showing in 2025, adding 6,173.6 MW, while planned capacity additions in 2026 would nearly double that amount: 10,369.0 MW (onshore) plus 1,515.0 MW (offshore).
By the end of 2025, renewables accounted for 33.2% of utility-scale capacity (excluding battery storage). Adding estimated small-scale solar capacity, renewables’ share was 36.3%.
Should EIA’s forecasts materialize, new capacity additions by solar, wind, and battery storage in 2026 would be 62% more than those in 2025.
On the other hand, last year, natural gas capacity increased by 5,731.5 MW, and nuclear power added a mere 60.3 MW. Meanwhile, coal capacity plummeted by 4,397.4 MW, petroleum-based capacity fell by an additional 559.4 MW, and “other” fossil fuel gases dipped by 62.2 MW.
Thus, during the Trump administration’s first year, renewable energy capacity – including battery storage, small-scale solar, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass – ballooned by 55,808.8 MW, while fossil fuels and nuclear power combined grew by just 772.7 MW.
In 2026, all net new generating capacity = renewables
Capacity growth from utility-scale renewables and batteries in 2026 is projected at 80,809.2 MW. (EIA does not provide a forecast for small-scale solar, but, based on recent growth rates, the SUN DAY Campaign estimates it will provide an additional 6,000 MW or more.)
The net capacity of natural gas, coal, and oil is forecast to fall by 4,211.6 MW. No new nuclear capacity is currently predicted.
Thus, in 2026, renewables and battery storage will account for all of net new utility-scale capacity additions.
Should EIA’s forecast materialize, by the end of 2026, the mix of all renewables, including estimated small-scale solar, would reach 525,356.1 MW, surpassing natural gas at 514,212.5 MW, and this does not include the capacity provided by battery storage.
Moreover, the installed capacity of utility-scale and estimated small-scale solar combined (261,166.0 MW) would surpass wind (170,154.9 MW). Solar capacity would also handily exceed coal (163,425.8 MW) and more than double nuclear power (98,451.5 MW), although the latter two sources would still have significantly higher capacity factors.
Further, including estimated small-scale solar, the share of renewables in generating capacity could reach 40% by the end of this year, excluding battery storage.
“Dramatic growth by solar, wind, and battery storage is the key takeaway of EIA’s 2025 data,” noted the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director, Ken Bossong. “And if EIA’s projections for 2026 prove correct, to paraphrase Al Jolson, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
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