EIA Forecast: U.S. Utility-Scale PV Capacity to Surge 60% by 2026

In 2026, the U.S. photovoltaic industry will experience explosive growth, with utility-scale PV installations surging 60% year-over-year to reach a new market peak.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States will add 86 GW of new utility-scale generation capacity in 2026, with PV accounting for 51%, energy storage for 28%, and wind power for 14%.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the U.S. will add 43.4 GW of utility-scale PV capacity in 2026, a 60% increase from the 27.2 GW installed in 2025. Notably, the U.S. already set a single-year record for new capacity additions in 2025 with 53 GW installed, surpassing all previous years since 2002. PV installations are projected to reach new heights in 2026.

Regionally, Texas remains the core area for U.S. solar development, hosting approximately 40% of the nation's planned new utility-scale PV capacity. Arizona and California each account for 6%, while Michigan holds 5%.

The EIA noted that the Tehuacana Creek 1 solar-plus-storage project in Navarro County, Texas, is expected to come online this year. With a capacity of 837 MW and 418 MW of storage, it will be the largest PV-related project commissioned in the U.S. in 2026. 

(This article is compiled from MERCOM. Please credit the source when reposting.)