Renewable power is making great strides in the United States as it continues to increase its share of the nation’s total energy output and consumption. Of the many resources that make up renewables, solar power is leading the way.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), solar power charted a steady path of growth for the better part of 2024. The EIA’s Electric Power Monthly, released on Dec. 20, 2024, includes data on the U.S. electric power industry through October.

The data show net generation from utility-scale solar reached more than 19 terawatt-hours (TWh) in October. That was not the highest output for the year. The hot summer months of June and July each exceeded 24 TWh. 

Significantly, the October figure represents more than a 35% increase from the same month in 2023 and more than a 30% increase for the first 10 months of the year compared to 2023.

The trajectory is similar when utility-scale solar is combined with small-scale solar. Its rapid increase has also helped solar surpass hydropower in net generation by a factor of about 25%.

Wind generation doubled solar output, with 40 TWh in October 2024. Like solar, it also grew from the year before, although at a slower pace of about 11%.

The trend of solar growth is likely to continue. EIA projects 62.8 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity to come online in 2024, which would be 55% more added capacity than the 40.4 GW added in 2023. Of the 2024 increase, solar is expected to account for the largest share at 58%.