Solar Energy Leads U.S. Growth in Renewable Power Generation in 2024, Increasing by Nearly 26%

A recent review by the SUN DAY Campaign of data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reveals that solar power has continued to lead the country’s renewable energy growth in 2024. Over the first three quarters of the year, solar electricity generation increased by 25.9%, with utility-scale solar growing by 30.1% and small-scale solar (including rooftop systems) up by 16.2%. Solar now accounts for 7.13% of the U.S. total electricity generation.

In September 2024 alone, utility-scale solar output grew by 29.0%, while small-scale solar expanded by 14.2%, with combined solar energy increasing by 24.6%. Solar made up over 7.5% of the nation’s electrical output in September. Small-scale solar, which represents systems under 1 MW, accounted for nearly 30% of all solar generation, contributing 2.0% to the U.S. electricity supply.

Wind energy also saw a boost, with generation up by 6.6% during the first nine months of 2024, contributing 9.9% of the nation’s electricity. Together, wind and solar accounted for 17.0% of U.S. electricity generation in 2024.

Overall, renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal, supplied 24.0% of the U.S. electricity in the first three quarters of the year, a 1.2% increase from 2023. The growth rate of renewables, at 8.6%, outpaced that of natural gas (4.1%) and nuclear power (1.3%).

In September 2024, renewables provided 21.3% of the nation’s electricity, marking a significant jump from 19.8% in September 2023. Wind and solar together produced 14.5% more electricity than coal, and their combined output almost matched nuclear generation (17.0% versus 17.6%).

Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, highlighted the importance of these trends, stating, “Renewable energy sources now account for a quarter of the nation’s electricity. Efforts to undermine renewables could severely impact the nation’s electricity supply and economy.”