U.S. Solar Industry Achieves Historic Milestone in 2023

Over half of new electricity capacity additions last year came from solar, a first in 80 years.

Solar energy accounted for over 50% of new electricity capacity additions to the U.S. grid in 2023, marking the first time in 80 years a renewable source has dominated annual capacity additions.
The U.S. solar industry added a record 32.4 gigawatts of capacity in 2023, driven by utility-scale installations and bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Challenges such as supply chain constraints, tariff disputes, and interconnection bottlenecks are anticipated to impact solar growth in 2024.
California's shift to new net billing rules and higher interest rates may slow residential solar installations, despite strong growth in previous years.
Experts remain optimistic about the future of solar energy, projecting nearly 500 gigawatts of new solar power in the U.S. over the next decade, influenced by policy and market developments.