The combined capacities of solar and wind energy now make up more than one-fifth of the total installed utility-scale generating capacity in the United States, according to a review by the SUN DAY Campaign of recently released data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The mix of renewable energy sources, which also includes biomass, geothermal, and hydropower, now accounts for nearly 30% of the country's total electrical generating capacity.
For the ninth consecutive month, solar power was the largest source of new capacity, positioning it to become the nation's second-largest source of generating capacity, behind only natural gas, within the next three years. FERC's latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” reported the commissioning of 50 solar units totaling 2,517MW in May, alongside two wind units (277MW) and two hydropower units (211MW). These renewable sources accounted for 94.23% of all new generating capacity added during the month, with natural gas providing the remaining 184MW.
From January to May 2024, solar and wind added 10,669MW and 2,095MW respectively. Combined with 212MW of hydropower and 3MW of biomass, renewables accounted for 89.91% of the new capacity added year-to-date. The new solar capacity added in this period more than doubled the 4,885MW added during the same period last year. Utility-scale solar has now moved into fourth place for its share of generating capacity, surpassing nuclear power and trailing only natural gas, coal, and wind.
FERC's data indicates that net “high probability” additions of solar from June 2024 to May 2027 will total 89,852MW, nearly four times the forecasted net additions for wind (23,449MW), making solar the fastest-growing energy source. “Step-by-step, installed solar capacity is surpassing all other energy sources,” said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “It has now advanced to fourth place and should be in second within a few years, with wind not far behind.”
