Solar & Wind Power Hit Record 17% of US Electricity
Why this is here: The combined capacity of new solar and battery storage projects will account for 79% of all planned US electricity generation additions in 2026, demonstrating their dominant role in grid expansion.
Wind and utility-scale solar generated a record 17% of US electricity in 2025. The two technologies combined to produce 760,000 GWh last year, increasing 88,000 GWh from 2024.
Utility-scale solar led growth with 296,000 GWh generated, a 34% year-over-year increase. Including residential rooftop solar, wind and solar accounted for 19% of total US net generation.
Wind power still generates more electricity by volume, producing 464,000 GWh in 2025, a 3% increase. US electricity demand rose at a 1.7% annual rate between 2020-2025, driven by data centers and industrial electrification. Planned capacity additions for 2026 total 86 GW, with solar and battery storage comprising 79% of that.