Solar PV made the greatest contribution to additional capacity
Future looks bright for US solar
Solar PV again made the greatest contribution to new capacity last year, and the probable extension of policy incentives will help the sector thrive
The US solar industry installed over 19GW of capacity in 2020 and is on track to add a further 324GW by 2031 to reach a total of 419GW, according to analysis by the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Solar PV accounted for the greatest contribution to power generation capacity in the US for the second successive year due to falling costs and ongoing policy incentives. The 2031 forecast is based only on already-announced policies and could therefore be an underestimate. If the Biden administration legislates for more long-term incentives, which would be in line with its prioritisation of the climate agenda, the estimates would increase further.
Also in this section
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation
