Solar PV made the greatest contribution to additional capacity
Future looks bright for US solar
Solar PV again made the greatest contribution to new capacity last year, and the probable extension of policy incentives will help the sector thrive
The US solar industry installed over 19GW of capacity in 2020 and is on track to add a further 324GW by 2031 to reach a total of 419GW, according to analysis by the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Solar PV accounted for the greatest contribution to power generation capacity in the US for the second successive year due to falling costs and ongoing policy incentives. The 2031 forecast is based only on already-announced policies and could therefore be an underestimate. If the Biden administration legislates for more long-term incentives, which would be in line with its prioritisation of the climate agenda, the estimates would increase further.
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Emerging industry must work with policymakers to convince a broader pool of investors to buy into its long-term potential
12 March 2026
Role of world’s largest carbon cap-and-trade market under scrutiny as war in Iran threatens to drive EU energy costs to unsustainable levels
10 March 2026
Europe urgently needs to bring more projects to FID, as CCS investors warn they might divert capital to faster-growing regions
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
