Renewable energy sources strengthened their position in the U.S. power sector during the first quarter of 2026, with electricity generation from renewables rising 11.1 percent year-on-year, according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Renewable energy accounted for more than 28.6 percent of total U.S. electricity generation during the January-March 2026 period, while solar and wind together contributed more than one-fifth, or 20.3 percent, of domestic electricity production.
Utility-scale solar emerged as the fastest-growing major renewable source, with electricity generation increasing 23.9 percent compared with the first quarter of 2025. Hydropower generation climbed 21.9 percent, while small-scale solar generation rose 11.9 percent. Wind generation increased 2.1 percent during the same period.
Battery energy storage capacity also expanded by 8.5 percent, reinforcing the rapid shift toward clean energy infrastructure across the U.S. electricity market.
In contrast, coal-fired electricity generation declined 11.4 percent, while natural gas and nuclear generation posted only marginal growth of 1.1 percent and 0.9 percent respectively.
Wind and solar generation together exceeded nuclear power output by 14.3 percent and surpassed coal generation by 31.1 percent during the first quarter of 2026.
Renewable energy expansion is expected to accelerate further over the next 12 months. As of April 1, 2026, renewables represented 33.6 percent of total U.S. utility-scale generating capacity. EIA forecasts this share will increase to 36.6 percent by March 31, 2027.
Utility-scale solar capacity is projected to grow by 42,626.1 megawatts (MW), increasing solar’s share of total U.S. generating capacity from 12.8 percent to 15.7 percent. Wind capacity is expected to rise by 14,157.4 MW, including 4,155 MW of offshore wind projects, lifting wind’s share from 13.0 percent to 13.6 percent.
Other renewable technologies including hydropower, biomass and geothermal are forecast to add another 297.1 MW of capacity.
Combined utility-scale renewable energy additions are projected to total 57,080.6 MW during the next 12 months, nearly double the 30,843.5 MW added during the previous year. This represents an 85.1 percent increase in renewable capacity additions.
Meanwhile, EIA projects no new nuclear generating capacity and expects fossil fuel generating capacity to decline by a net 4,266.2 MW over the same period.
Small-scale solar installations continue to play a major role in U.S. renewable growth. Small-scale solar capacity increased by 6,358.2 MW during the past year, bringing total installed small-scale solar capacity to 60,978.4 MW.
The SUN DAY Campaign estimates that small-scale solar could add another 6,000 MW or more by April 2027. If achieved, total installed renewable energy capacity in the U.S. would rise to approximately 533,319.7 MW, exceeding projected natural gas generating capacity of 514,868.4 MW.
Solar power alone is expected to account for nearly one-fifth, or 19.9 percent, of total U.S. installed generating capacity by early 2027.
Battery energy storage is also witnessing rapid expansion. Storage capacity increased by 17,301.8 MW during the past year, and EIA forecasts another 23,523.8 MW will be added by April 1, 2027. Total battery storage capacity would then reach 69,971.1 MW, representing growth of more than 50 percent.
Together, utility-scale renewable energy and battery storage are projected to contribute 80,604.4 MW of new clean energy capacity by early spring 2027. Including small-scale solar, total clean energy additions could approach 87,000 MW.
EIA’s latest “Short-Term Energy Outlook” projects continued strong growth in renewable technologies through at least the end of 2027. Utility-scale solar capacity is forecast to increase 43.3 percent from 150 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2025 to 215 GW by the end of 2027.
Solar electricity generation is expected to rise 41.6 percent from 0.293 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) to 0.415 BkWh over the same period.
Wind capacity is projected to increase 12.6 percent from 159 GW to 179 GW, while wind electricity generation is forecast to rise 12.5 percent from 0.464 BkWh to 0.522 BkWh.
Battery storage capacity, which stood at 42 GW at the end of 2025, is expected to double to 85 GW by the end of 2027.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also forecasts continued rapid renewable energy deployment through 2028. FERC estimates that between January 2026 and December 2028, utility-scale solar additions could total 86,126 MW, while wind additions may reach 19,821 MW. Hydropower, biomass and geothermal sources could add another 540 MW.
These additions would increase renewables’ share of installed U.S. utility-scale generating capacity from 33.0 percent at the end of 2025 to 38.8 percent by the end of 2028.
By comparison, net natural gas additions during the same three-year period are projected at only 8,154 MW, while coal and oil generating capacity are forecast to decline by 40,828 MW and 1,590 MW respectively. FERC does not anticipate any new nuclear generating capacity during the period.
Looking further ahead, EIA’s “Annual Energy Outlook” forecasts utility-scale solar capacity will rise from 154.5 GW at the end of 2025 to 257.7 GW by 2030, representing growth of more than two-thirds.
Solar electricity generation is expected to more than double from 275.3 BkWh to 578.7 BkWh during the five-year period.
Wind capacity is projected to increase from 159.0 GW to 204.4 GW by 2030, including a nearly ten-fold rise in offshore wind capacity from 1 GW to 9.7 GW.
Annual wind generation is forecast to climb from 463.9 BkWh to 662.8 BkWh by 2030, with offshore wind contributing almost 5 percent of total wind electricity production.
Overall, total utility-scale renewable energy capacity is projected to increase nearly 40 percent from 400.2 GW to 559.4 GW by 2030. Combined renewable electricity generation is expected to rise from 1,118.8 BkWh to 1,564.0 BkWh during the same period.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
