US solar generation increased by 24% in 2022 – EIA

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Solar PV’s share of total US electricity generation in 2022 reached 4.74%, up from the 3.95% share a year earlier. Image: Avantus.

Solar PV generation in the US during 2022 increased by 24.14% year-on-year according to the country’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) latest report.

The data – which was reviewed by non-profit research organisation Sun Day Campaign – showed that solar remained the fastest-growing renewable energy source in 2022 and ended the year with a share of 4.74% of all electricity capacity generated in 2022, up from the 3.95% share in 2021.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Solar PV’s share in total electricity capacity generated continues to increase as more capacity is installed, with 12.6GW of utility-scale added in 2022, almost flat year-over-year due to ongoing supply chain issues aggravated by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act that was implemented in June 2022.

During 2022, renewables provided 22.58% of total US electrical generation capacity, up from 20.79% the previous year and slightly improving the EIA’s forecast of 22% for the full year.

All renewables combined have produced more renewable energy sources than coal and nuclear power but trailed behind natural gas which accounted for 39.72% of the total generation.

“Renewables are now on track to reach one-quarter of electrical generation in 2023 as well as one-seventh of total domestic energy production and then accelerate in the years to follow,” said Ken Bossong, executive director at SUN DAY Campaign.

Solar’s output in total electrical generation in the US is set to keep growing as almost two-thirds of new capacity additions in the US will come from solar PV with nearly 73GW added through November 2025.

17 June 2025
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 17-18 June 2025, will be our fourth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2026 and beyond.

Read Next

October 2, 2024
US solar energy advocates need to emulate the oil and gas industry and become more effective in political lobbying, a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama has said.
August 22, 2024
According to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) latest report “Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory”, solar PV accounted for 59% of all additions.
July 23, 2024
A round-up of the latest solar project news, as Lightsource bp commissions its first PV project in Poland, Soltec receives EIA on a 220MW solar portfolio in Italy and Iberdrola completes two plants in Portugal.
July 22, 2024
The amount of residential solar paired with a battery energy storage system (BESS) in California has increased notably under the state’s new net energy metering 3.0 (NEM 3.0) scheme.  
July 1, 2024
A Lawrence Berkeley National Lab report has quantified the improving value of solar and wind power in the US.
June 28, 2024
The US generated 18,938GWh of electricity from utility-scale solar in April 2024, accounting for 6.1% of its total electricity generation.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 15, 2024
Santiago, Chile
Solar Media Events
October 22, 2024
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 12, 2024
San Diego, USA