Solar Generation Increases by 27%, Now Represents 6.8% of Total Electricity
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), solar photovoltaic (PV) sources accounted for more than 6.8% of all electricity generated in the U.S. over the past year, rising from 5.5% in 2023. This represents a remarkable 24% year-over-year increase. This growth occurred even as total U.S. electricity generation rose by 3.1%.
The EIA’s Electric Power Monthly Report indicates that total solar generation surpassed 300 TWh, marking an increase of 64 TWh from the previous year. This 27% growth is the largest absolute increase in solar generation since 2016, despite the larger installed capacity. Specifically, utility-scale solar expanded by 32%, while distributed solar grew by 15.3%. As a result, utility-scale solar now constitutes nearly 5% of total U.S. electricity generation, with distributed solar contributing just over 1.9%.
Last year, pv magazine USA accurately predicted that solar would reach 6.9% of total U.S. electricity generation, based on the deployment of 35.3 GW of new capacity in 2023. Together, wind and solar now provide 17.2% of all electricity generated in the country. Notably, three states—Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas—generate more than 50% of their electricity from these two renewable sources. While these states are known for their strong wind generation, solar plays a smaller role in their energy mix.
After two years of stagnation, CO₂-free electricity generation has increased, surpassing 40.9% of total U.S. generation by the end of 2024, up from 39.5% the previous year. This growth has been primarily driven by wind and solar, which increased their combined share from 15.4% to 17.2%—a 1.7% rise that outpaced the overall 1.4% growth of CO₂-free generation. While there was a slight decline in hydroelectric generation, this was balanced by an increase in nuclear output.
Several states experienced over 50% growth in solar generation in 2024. South Dakota led with an extraordinary 7,000% increase, as the state launched its first two utility-scale solar facilities. Maine and New Mexico also emerged as high-growth markets, with both states exceeding 10% solar generation for the first time, largely due to community solar installations.
The disparity between the top ten solar-generating states and the bottom ten remains significant. However, when considering long-term decarbonization efforts, the situation is more complex. A previous analysis by pv magazine USA identified five “solar laggards.” Despite low solar rankings, states like Oklahoma, Kansas, and North Dakota are strong producers of wind energy. Alaska, with its months of limited sunlight, is an understandable outlier. This leaves West Virginia as the state’s true laggard in both solar and clean energy, ranking 48th nationally and deriving only 0.41% of its electricity from solar sources.
For more detailed information, refer to PV Intel’s 50 States of Solar report.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/u-s-solar-generation-surges-27-now-contributes-6-8-of-total-electricity/
