U.S. Energy Information Administration Projects 80 GW Surge In Solar, Wind And Storage By 2027

U.S. Energy Information Administration has released new data, reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign, showing that the U.S. is set for a major shift in its electricity-generating landscape over the next year. According to the latest projections, utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage are expected to add more than 80 GW of new capacity by February 28, 2027, while fossil fuel and nuclear capacity combined will decline by nearly 5 GW. As of March 1, 2026, renewable energy made up 33.4% of all U.S. utility-scale generating capacity (systems larger than 1 MW). By early 2027, this share is expected to reach 36.6%. Solar alone will add more than 42.6 GW, increasing its share from 12.7% to 15.5%.

Wind will add another 14.5 GW, including more than 4.1 GW of offshore projects, lifting its overall share from 13.1% to 13.6%. Other renewable sources—hydropower, biomass, and geothermal—will together contribute an additional 316.7 MW. Altogether, renewables will grow by 57.4 GW, nearly 75% more than the capacity added during the previous year. In contrast, nuclear power is expected to add no new generating capacity, while fossil fuels—led by coal and gas retirements—will see a net decline of 4.9 GW. If small-scale solar systems are considered, the shift becomes even more pronounced.

While EIA does not forecast small-scale solar growth, it reported that the U.S. had 60.2 GW of small-scale solar installed by February 2026, with more than 6 GW added in the previous year. If a similar amount comes online by March 2027, total renewable capacity would rise to 39.7% of all U.S. generating capacity. Solar energy alone would account for 19.7%, inching closer to one-fifth of the nation’s electricity-producing capability. During the same period, natural gas capacity is projected to decline from 40% to 38.3%, marking another shift toward cleaner energy sources.

Battery energy storage is also set for major expansion. Utility-scale storage capacity is projected to rise from 44.6 GW to 67.5 GW, an increase of more than 51%. Combined with renewable energy additions, the U.S. would gain approximately 86.4 GW of clean capacity over the next year. This growth in capacity is already reflected in real-world electricity generation. In January and February 2026, renewable energy output rose by 10.8%, supplying 26% of total U.S. electricity—up from 23.6% during the same period in 2025. Renewables grew at three times the pace of overall electricity generation.

Utility-scale solar led the surge with a 23.2% increase, while hydropower jumped by 22.9% and small-scale solar grew by 11.4%. Wind and geothermal also posted modest growth. For yet another year, combined generation from solar and wind surpassed output from both coal and nuclear power. Despite policy challenges faced during the previous year, renewable energy continued to advance rapidly. According to the SUN DAY Campaign, the momentum now positions clean energy to accelerate even further through 2026 and beyond, supported by rising investment, expanding project pipelines, and strengthening market demand.