The United States is forecast to add a record 43.4 gigawatts of large-scale solar capacity in 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), representing a 60% increase from 2025 and underscoring solar energy’s continued dominance in the nation’s power generation expansion.
Quick Facts
- 43.4 GW of utility-scale solar capacity expected in 2026, up 60% from 2025
- Solar will account for 51% of the 86 GW in total new utility-scale capacity additions in 2026
- Texas, Arizona, California, and Michigan will host more than half of all planned 2026 solar additions
- The Tehuacana Creek 1 project in Texas, at 837 MW, is the largest solar project expected to come online in 2026
The EIA forecast reflects accelerating investment in utility-scale solar infrastructure as developers rush to complete projects and meet tax credit requirements. The 43.4 GW figure marks a significant jump from 2025, when the U.S. solar industry installed 43.2 gigawatts of capacity, maintaining its position as the leading source of new electricity-generating capacity for the fifth consecutive year.
Geographic concentration remains a key feature of the expansion. Texas leads by far, accounting for 40% of planned 2026 solar additions, followed by Arizona at 6%, California at 6%, and Michigan at 5%. This regional concentration reflects both existing solar infrastructure and favorable state-level policies supporting renewable energy development.
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Solar energy set to add record 43.4GW capacity in US this year
Battery Storage and Wind Additions Accelerate
Solar additions are part of a broader renewable energy buildout. Developers plan to add 24 GW of utility-scale battery storage capacity in 2026, up from 15 GW added in 2025, with about 80% concentrated in Texas (53%), California (14%), and Arizona (13%). Wind capacity is expected to rebound with 11.8 GW of planned additions, more than double the capacity added in 2025.
Together, solar and battery storage are expected to account for 79% of the 86 GW in new utility-scale capacity additions forecasted for 2026, continuing a trend in which renewables have dominated new generation investment. The EIA’s forecast underscores a shift in the nation’s electricity infrastructure even amid policy uncertainty, with renewable energy projects advancing through interconnection queues and construction phases despite recent federal permitting changes.
Sources
- Mercomindia — EIA forecast of 43.4 GW utility-scale solar capacity for 2026, state distribution, and major projects
- Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) — 2025 solar installations at 43.2 GW and Q4 2025 market analysis
