U.S. Solar Capacity Surpasses 50 Million Homes as Q2 2026 Installations Surge

The United States has reached enough operating solar capacity to power more than 50 million American homes, representing over one-third of households nationwide, as the country’s solar market continues to expand.

According to the latest U.S. Solar Market Insight report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie, the U.S. solar industry added 11.4 GWdc of new capacity in the second quarter of 2026, marking a 45% increase year over year and a 43% rise from the first quarter.

Utility-scale solar accounted for the majority of new installations, with 9.6 GWdc added during the quarter, up 61% compared with the same period last year. The strong growth was driven in part by developers accelerating project completions ahead of the July 2026 safe harbor deadline for tax credit eligibility.

Solar and energy storage together accounted for 70% of all new electricity generation capacity added to the U.S. grid during the first half of 2026.

The report forecasts that the U.S. solar market will nearly double over the next five years, supported by strong project pipelines and capacity that has been safe-harbored ahead of changes to federal tax incentives.

Wood Mackenzie expects the U.S. market to sustain approximately 44 GWdc of annual solar additions through 2031. However, permitting challenges and the transition following the investment tax credit (ITC) remain potential headwinds for future growth.

The residential solar segment continues to face challenges following the expiration of the residential solar tax credit. However, the market is expected to return to growth in 2027, as homeowners increasingly adopt solar to reduce electricity costs and improve energy resilience.

Solar deployment is also expanding across states that supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. These states accounted for 71% of total U.S. solar capacity installed during the first half of 2026, including eight of the country’s top 10 states for new solar installations.

SEIA said the continued expansion of solar and storage will be critical to meeting rising U.S. electricity demand, strengthening grid reliability and managing energy costs.