Solar power in the United States

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 219.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) in the United States. Total solar generation that year, including estimated small-scale photovoltaic generation, was 303.8 TWh. As of the end of 2024, the United States had 239 gigawatts (GW) of installed photovol

PVWatts Calculator

Estimates the energy production and cost of energy of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world. It allows homeowners, small building owners, installers and manufacturers to

Off-Grid or Stand-Alone Renewable Energy Systems

For many people, powering their homes or small businesses using a small renewable energy system that is not connected to the electricity grid -- called a stand-alone system -- makes economic sense

The 6 Best Solar Generators of 2026

In the last five years or so, portable fuel-powered generators and battery-based power stations have become increasingly essential in extreme weather. But power stations (i.e., solar

Short-Term Energy Outlook Distributed Solar Model

We develop small-scale solar electric power generation forecasts by state or aggregated region. The estimates of electric power generation rely on the estimates of capacity.

Short-Term Energy Outlook

More than one-third of U.S. solar power capacity is small-scale solar—a share that has been declining in recent years because utility-scale solar has been growing faster. We expect both

Homeowner''s Guide to Solar | Department of Energy

Solar projects are making it easier for Americans to choose solar energy to power their homes. Since 2008, hundreds of thousands of solar panels have been installed across the country as more and

Off-Grid Small Solar System

Whether you''re looking to power a tiny home, a remote cabin, or just want a backup energy source, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We''ll break down the

Solar Industry Research Data – SEIA

Solar''s Share of U.S. Energy Production Rises Across States Solar''s share of U.S. electricity generation has risen from less than 0.1% in 2010 to over 8% today. Solar has grown to play an increasing role in

Solar power in the United States

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 219.8 terawatt