The current situation and trend of solar power generation

What percentage of US electricity is generated by solar?

U.S. PV Deployment In 2023, PV represented approximately 54% of new U.S. electric generation capacity, compared to 6% in 2010. Solar still represented only 11.2% of net summer capacity and 5.6% of annual generation in 2023. However, 22 states generated more than 5% of their electricity from solar, with California leading the way at 28.2%.

Is solar energy a future energy resource?

The utilization of renewable energy as a future energy resource is drawing significant attention worldwide. The contribution of solar energy (including concentrating solar power (CSP) and solar photovoltaic (PV) power) to global electricity production, as one form of renewable energy sources, is generally still low, at 3.6%.

How much has solar generation increased from 2014 to 2023?

• Total peak monthly U.S. solar generation increased by a factor of 8.8 from 2014 to 2023. Note: EIA monthly data for 2023 are not final. Additionally, smaller utilities report information to EIA on a yearly basis. Therefore, a certain amount of solar data have not yet been reported. "U.S. Total” includes DPV generation.

What is the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production?

While the contribution of solar energy to global electricity production remains generally low at 3.6%, it has firmly established itself among other renewable energy technologies, comprising nearly 31% of the total installed renewable energy capacity in 2022 (IRENA, 2023).

How will solar PV & wind impact global electricity generation?

The share of solar PV and wind in global electricity generation is forecast to double to 25% in 2028 in our main case. This rapid expansion in the next five years will have implications for power systems worldwide.

How does new solar power capacity affect generation growth?

Wind and solar developers often bring their projects on line at the end of the calendar year. So, the new capacity tends to affect generation growth trends for the following year. Solar is the fastest-growing renewable source because of the larger capacity additions and favorable tax credits policies.