Solar Generation Increases by 27%, Now Represents 6.8% of Total Electricity
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), solar photovoltaic sources accounted for over 6.8% of all electricity generated in the United States over the past year, a significant increase from 5.5% in 2023, marking a 24% year-over-year growth. This expansion occurred alongside a 3.1% rise in total U.S. electricity generation.
In absolute terms, solar generation grew by an impressive 27%, a rate that is somewhat overshadowed by the overall increase in electricity demand. The EIA’s Electric Power Monthly Report indicates that total solar photovoltaic generation exceeded 300 TWh, which is an increase of 64 TWh compared to the previous year. This remarkable 27% growth represents the largest absolute increase in solar generation since 2016, despite being fueled by a much larger installed capacity.
Utility-scale solar saw a substantial 32% increase, while distributed solar grew by 15.3%. As a result, utility-scale solar now comprises nearly 5% of total U.S. 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 energy sources provided 17.2% of all U.S. electricity.
Three states—Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas—now derive more than 50% of their electricity from these two renewable sources. Notably, these states are recognized for their strong wind energy production, while solar plays a lesser role in their overall energy mix.
After two years of stagnation, CO₂-free electricity generation surpassed 40.9% of total U.S. generation by the end of 2024, up from 39.5% the previous year. The majority of this increase stemmed from wind and solar energy, which raised their combined share from 15.4% to 17.2%, reflecting a 1.7% increase that outpaced the 1.4% overall growth of CO₂-free generation. While there was a slight decline in hydroelectric generation, this was offset by an increase in nuclear output.
Several states experienced solar generation growth exceeding 50% in 2024. South Dakota led with an astounding 7,000% increase as it activated its first two utility-scale solar facilities. Maine and New Mexico also emerged as high-growth markets, growing from a strong solar generation base and surpassing 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 substantial. However, when examining long-term decarbonization efforts, the landscape becomes more complex. A previous analysis by pv magazine USA identified five “solar laggards.” States like Oklahoma, Kansas, and North Dakota, although ranking low in solar output, are significant wind energy producers. Alaska, characterized by months of minimal sunlight, is a notable exception. West Virginia stands out as the only state that ranks low in both solar and clean energy, coming in at 48th nationally with only 0.41% of its electricity derived from solar sources.
For more insights, 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-supply/
