EIA Data Shows Solar Hits Record 9% of U.S. Power, Renewables Near 28% in First Half of 2025

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that solar power accounted for almost 9% of the nation’s electricity in the first half of 2025, while wind and solar combined supplied more than one-fifth of total generation. Overall, renewable sources generated nearly 28% of U.S. electricity during the period.

Solar Continues Rapid Growth

According to EIA’s latest Electric Power Monthly report, utility-scale solar generation surged 30.1% in June compared to the same month in 2024, while small-scale systems such as rooftop PV increased by 10.5%. Together, solar sources provided 10.2% of the nation’s electricity in June.

For the January–June period, utility-scale solar thermal and PV output expanded by 37.6%, while small-scale systems rose 10.7%. Combined, solar grew nearly 30% year-on-year, raising its share of U.S. power generation to 8.7%, up from 6.9% in the first half of 2024.

As a result, solar generation outpaced hydropower by almost 45% and now exceeds the combined output of hydropower, biomass, and geothermal sources.

Wind Remains a Key Contributor

Wind turbines generated 11.6% of U.S. electricity in the first six months of 2025, a 2.4% increase over the previous year and nearly double the contribution from hydropower.

Wind and Solar Surpass Coal and Nuclear

Together, wind and solar supplied 20.3% of U.S. electricity in the first half of the year, up from 18.6% during the same period in 2024. Their combined output was 25% greater than coal and 15.6% higher than nuclear.

Renewables Near 30% of U.S. Power Mix

All renewable sources—including wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal—produced 27.7% of U.S. electricity between January and June, up from 26.1% a year earlier. The sector’s generation rose 9.2%, outpacing overall U.S. electricity growth of 3%. Natural gas remained the largest source but saw its output decline by 3.7%.

Outlook Ahead

“EIA’s latest data reflect the situation prior to enactment of the Trump/Republican megabill which may adversely affect future renewable energy growth,” said Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “Nonetheless, EIA notes that U.S. developers expect half of new electric generating capacity to come from solar in 2025 and another 13% from wind.”