New data recently released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign, reveals growth of more than 10% in electrical generation by renewable energy sources in the first third of 2026. Moreover, utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage are projected to add more than 78.5 gigawatts (GW) of new generating capacity in the U.S. by April 30, 2027 while total fossil fuel and nuclear power capacity will fall by over 5.2-GW.
Amite Solar in Louisiana. Credit: NextEra Energy
Renewable energy output grew by 10% in the first third of 2026, according to an analysis of U.S. Energy Information Administration data by the SUN DAY Campaign. Combined, utility-scale solar, wind and battery energy storage systems are expected to add more than 78.5 GW to the grid by April 30 2027, and fossil fuel and nuclear capacity are expected to decrease by 5.2 GW.
Compared to first third of last year, renewable electricity had 10.03% greater greater output, led by solar projects 1 MW or larger. By comparison, U.S. coal plant output fell by 11.6%, while nuclear power grew by 0.5% and natural gas by 2.8%. The combination of just wind and solar, including small-scale solar, provided 21.8% of domestic electrical production.
In April alone, wind and solar each produced more electricity than the nation’s coal plants while the combination of solar and wind produced 57.0% more electricity than nuclear power.
Between May 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026, utility-scale solar grew by 27.57 GW while small-scale solar by 6.49 GW. EIA reported that utility-scale solar capacity surpassed wind (160.2 GW vs. 160.1 GW) for the first time. In addition, utility-scale battery energy storage capacity increased by 17.7 GW or 58.1%.
By comparison, coal capacity fell by 3.51 GW and nuclear added just 18.4 MW. However, natural gas capacity rose by 7.75 GW.
As of May 1, renewable energy’s share of total U.S. utility-scale generating capacity was 33.8%. EIA projects this to grow to 36.8% by April 30, 2027. With the inclusion of small-scale solar, renewables’ capacity could surpass natural gas by early 2027 – or sooner.
If small-scale solar does increase by approximately 6 GW by May 1, 2027, it will bring renewable energy’s installed capacity up to about 537.6 GW. By comparison, natural gas’ generating capacity is projected to total 515.7 GW. Solar power’s share alone would be more than one-fifth (20.1%) of total U.S. capacity.
Battery energy storage is projected to increase by at least 47% by next spring. EIA foresees battery energy storage adding another 22.8 GW by May 1, 2027, bringing its total output to 71,007.4-MW.
“The steadily accelerating march of solar, wind and battery storage continues,” said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “Trump seems to be having no more success in stopping the growth of renewable energy sources than he is having in repairing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.”
News item from the SUN DAY Campaign
