Discover the best states for solar power production in the country with our August Solar Energy Generation Report. Where does your state rank?
In 2024, net solar power generation in the United States reached its highest point yet at 218.5 terawatt hours of solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) power.
The availability of financial and other incentives for solar energy are major factors that affect where solar energy systems are installed. Net metering has been especially
OverviewSolar potentialHistorySolar photovoltaic powerConcentrated solar power (CSP)Government supportSee alsoFurther reading
Solar power includes solar farms as well as local distributed generation, mostly on rooftops and increasingly from community solar arrays. In 2024, utility-scale solar power generated 218.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the United States. Total solar generation that year, including estimated small-scale photovoltaic generation, was 303.2 TWh. As of the end of 2024, the United States had 239 gigawatts (G
82% of U.S. energy comes from fossil fuels, 8.7% from nuclear, and 8.8% from renewable sources. In 2023, renewables surpassed coal in energy generation. 1 Wind and solar are the fastest growing renewable sources, but contribute less
California and Nevada were the states with the highest percentage of solar in their electricity generation, with 28.2 and 25.9 percent, respectively.
Reading time: 4 minutesSolar power in the United States has a lengthy history —the first U.S. patents for solar cells were filed in the 1880s, and the first commercially viable solar cell was produced by Bell Labs in 1954.
The report analyzes the most recent solar energy data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Following is a breakdown of the rest of the states (all shown
States like Arizona and New Mexico lead the way, showcasing some of the highest levels of solar exposure in the United States. They offer invaluable resources for developing solar parks and maximizing energy
Solar energy accounted for some 6.91 percent of electricity generation in the United States in 2024, up from a 5.62 percent share a year earlier.
At the end of 2023, SEIA estimates there were nearly 5 million residential PV systems in the United States. 3.3% of households own or lease a PV system (or 5.3% of households living in
Introduction Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems will play a crucial role in meeting the United States'' climate and energy goals. Their affordability, ease of installation, and versatility
You''ll find the highest concentration of solar energy usage in California, Arizona, Texas, and Hawaii, where favorable policies, abundant sunlight, and growing demand have
Solar Futures Study The Solar Futures Study explores pathways for solar energy to drive deep decarbonization of the U.S. electric grid and considers how further
Solar energy adoption across the United States varies widely, depending on factors like sunlight availability, government incentives, and installation costs. States like
Solar energy has continued to grow rapidly across the United States in 2024, cementing its position as a crucial component of the nation''s renewable energy strategy. Advances in solar technology, combined with
Energy sources are measured in different physical unit: liquid fuels in barrels or gallons, natural gas in cubic feet, coal in short tons, and electricity in kilowatts and
Solar is becoming an increasingly important energy resource in the United States. In the last decade, solar has grown with an average annual rate of 26 percent, reaching a capacity of over 138
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reports that solar installations and residential solar power continue to grow in the United States.
In the final five months of 2024, we expect new U.S. solar electricity generating capacity will make up 63%, or nearly two-thirds, of all new electricity generating capacity to
[3] The United States conducted much early research in photovoltaics and concentrated solar power. It is among the top countries in the world in electricity generated by the sun and several
Solar energy is used all over the world, and like the United States, global solar electricity generation has increased substantially. Total world solar electricity generation grew
Discover how and where solar energy is used in the US. Learn which states lead in solar adoption and explore the top applications of photovoltaic power.
The United States is undergoing a clean energy revolution, and solar energy will play an important role in that transition. The country can build upon the success in solar innovation and growth of
Energy from the sun The sun has produced energy for billions of years and is the ultimate source for all of the energy sources and fuels that we use. People have used the sun''s rays (solar
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that, in 2024, the United States added a record 30 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar to the grid, accounting for 61% of new capacity additions to the U.S. electric grid
States like Arizona and New Mexico lead the way, showcasing some of the highest levels of solar exposure in the United States. They offer invaluable resources for
The state with the most solar-powered homes: Nevada has 426 homes per 1000 households powered by solar. Most affordable state for solar energy: Hawaii solar installation costs account for 12.40% of the state’s median household income. 1. California California came in as the best state for solar energy for good reason.
California once again takes first place among the top states generating electricity from solar power this month. The Golden State produced 23.2% of the United States’ total of 35,440 thousand megawatt-hours, according to ChooseEnergy.com’s July 2025 solar energy generation report.
U.S. flips switch on massive solar power array that also stores electricity: The array is first large U.S. solar plant with a thermal energy storage system Archived July 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, October 10, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
Solar penetration in the United States stood at roughly 4.7 percent in 2022, that is, solar accounted for 4.7 percent of the electricity generated across the country that year. California and Nevada were the states with the highest percentage of solar in their electricity generation, with 27.3 and 23.3 percent, respectively.
Total solar energy use in the United States increased from about 0.02 trillion British thermal units (Btu) in 1984 to about 878 trillion Btu (or about 0.9 quadrillion Btu) in 2023. Solar electricity generation accounted for about 93% of total solar energy use in 2023 and solar energy use for space and water heating accounted for about 7%.
Solar energy in the United States is booming. Along with our partners at Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables, SEIA tracks trends and trajectories in the solar industry that demonstrate the diverse and sustained growth of solar across the country. Below you will find charts and information summarizing the state of solar in the U.S.
