In its latest report, the US Energy Information istration (EIA) projects that renewable capacity additions in the US will continue to drive electric generation growth in the country over the next two years. Solar energy is expected to play a key role. 29f1m

The Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) report highlights that the EIA expects US utilities and independent power producers to add 26 GW of solar capacity to the country's electric sector in 2025, and 22 GW in 2026.

Last year, the electric sector added a record 37 GW of solar capacity, nearly doubling the solar capacity additions of 2023. The EIA anticipates wind capacity additions to increase by around 8 GW in 2025 and 9 GW in 2026, slight increases from the 7 GW added in 2024.

According to the report, unlike solar and wind energy, the generation capacity from most other energy sources is expected to remain nearly unchanged in 2025 and 2026.

Natural gas capacity growth slowed in 2024, with only 1 GW of capacity added to the energy mix, but it remains the largest source of electricity generation in the U.S.

The report also notes that coal retirements in the US will accelerate, eliminating 6% (11 GW) of the coal generation capacity from the electric sector in 2025, and another 2% (4 GW) in 2026.

Last year, coal retirements ed for about 3 GW of capacity removed from the electric system, which was the lowest annual amount of coal capacity retired since 2011.

Renewable capacity additions are expected to sustain most of the growth in US electric generation, which is projected to increase by 2% in 2025 and 1% in 2026. The US electric sector generated a total of 4.155 trillion kWh of electricity in 2024, 3% more than in 2023.

Renewable Energy 1m5m6r

Renewable energy generation is expected to increase by 12% in the U.S., reaching 1.058 trillion kWh in 2025, and an additional 8% increase to 1.138 trillion kWh in 2026. Renewable sources were the second-largest contributor to U.S. electricity generation in 2024, ing for 945 billion kWh, 9% more than in 2023.

Nuclear Energy 2m1z2l

Nuclear energy generation in the U.S. is expected to grow by 2% to 796 billion kWh in 2025, with an additional 1% increase to 800 billion kWh in 2026. Nuclear generation in 2024 increased slightly compared to 2023, totaling 781 billion kWh. The projected increase in nuclear generation is partly due to the addition of two units at the Vogtle nuclear plant, which began commercial operation in July 2023 and April 2024, as well as the expected restart of the Palisades plant in October 2025.