Renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal) accounted for over 90 percent of new U.S. electricity generating capacity added in the first two-thirds of 2024.
In August alone, 99.8 percent of new capacity came from renewables, led by solar (1,404 MW) and biomass (3 MW), with only 3 MW from natural gas.
Solar’s Continued Growth:
Solar was the largest source of new capacity for the 12th consecutive month, contributing nearly 100 percent of all new capacity in August.
Solar provided 78.3 percent of all new capacity added from January through August 2024, more than double the solar capacity added during the same period in 2023.
Wind and Other Renewables:
Wind power contributed 10.7 percent of new capacity in 2024, slightly lower than the same period in 2023.
The combined capacities of solar and wind now make up 21 percent of the U.S. utility-scale generating capacity (solar: 9.21 percent, wind: 11.74 percent).
Renewables Reach 30.1 percent Share:
Including hydropower, biomass, and geothermal, renewables now account for 30.1 percent of total U.S. utility-scale generating capacity.
Solar’s share (9.2 percent) surpasses nuclear power (8.0 percent) and hydropower (7.7 percent).
Projected Solar Dominance:
By September 2027, solar could make up 15.2 percent of the nation’s installed capacity, outpacing coal (13.2 percent) and wind (12.6 percent), becoming the second-largest source after natural gas.
Renewables could rise to 36.4 percent of total U.S. generating capacity by then, closing in on natural gas.
Long-Term Forecast:
Including small-scale solar systems, the combined capacity of all renewables is expected to exceed natural gas within three years, potentially reaching over 40 percent of total U.S. capacity.