Utility-Scale Solar Up 29% in U.S. as Batteries Jump 59%

• New U.S. data shows major growth in solar generation and battery capacity over the last year.

The United States recorded significant progress in clean-energy deployment over the past year, with utility-scale solar generation climbing 29% and grid-connected battery capacity increasing by 59%. The figures highlight a rapidly evolving electricity system where solar-plus-storage projects are becoming the new norm rather than the exception.

Battery storage is expanding fastest, driven by the need to smooth fluctuations in solar output and ensure evening peak power supply. Many utilities are now procuring hybrid projects that can deliver firm, dispatchable renewable electricity — an approach reshaping grid-planning strategies nationwide.

Solar installations also continue growing steadily, supported by tax incentives, lower technology costs and rising corporate demand for clean power. States such as California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada remain the biggest contributors, while several Midwestern and Eastern states are accelerating deployment to meet climate targets.

Analysts say the combined growth of solar and storage reflects a broader shift in how the U.S. grid is being designed. With coal plant retirements accelerating and gas prices volatile, renewable-plus-storage configurations offer utilities greater flexibility, lower operating costs and improved resilience.

If the trend continues, the U.S. could soon reach a tipping point where clean energy begins to dominate not only daytime generation but also evening peak supply — a milestone that would transform electricity markets nationwide.