Umair Gaines
Solar energy is an increasingly important source of electricity, with costs for solar technology rapidly declining. Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity, alongside wind power. In 2022, solar and wind energy accounted for 12% of the world's power, up from 10% in 2021. In 2023, solar energy accounted for 5.5% of electricity generation globally, and up to 5.6% in the United States. Utility-scale solar accounted for around 8% of the US's capacity from all utility-scale electricity sources, with solar energy providing 19% of electricity in California and 23% in Nevada.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in the US in 2023 | 5.6% |
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in the US in 2022 | 4.8% |
| Utility-scale solar as a percentage of the US capacity from all utility-scale electricity sources in 2023 | 8% |
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in the US in 2023 produced by utility-scale solar | 4% |
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in the US in 2014 produced by utility-scale solar | 0.5% |
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in California in 2023 | 27.3% |
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in California contributed by utility-scale solar in 2023 | 19% |
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in Nevada in 2023 | 23% |
| Percentage of electricity from solar energy in Nevada contributed by utility-scale solar in 2023 | 23% |
| Share of solar within the global energy mix in 2023 | 5.5% |
| Share of solar within the global energy mix in 2022 | 4.6% |
| Percentage of the world's power that came from solar and wind energy in 2022 | 12% |
| Percentage of the world's power that came from solar and wind energy in 2021 | 10% |
| Share of electricity generation from solar energy in Sweden, Norway, France, Paraguay, Iceland, and Nepal, among others | Over 90% |
| Share of electricity generation from solar energy in more than 60 countries | Over 10% |
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What You'll Learn
Solar energy accounted for 5.6% of US electricity in 2023
Solar energy is a rapidly growing source of electricity in the United States and worldwide. In 2023, solar energy accounted for 5.6% of electricity generation in the US, a notable increase from 4.8% in 2022. This growth reflects a broader trend of increasing renewable energy adoption and a shift away from fossil fuels.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that small-scale solar photovoltaic systems generated an additional 73.62 billion kWh of electricity in 2023. Utility-scale solar, which includes large power plants, contributed around 4% of US electricity in the same year. California and Nevada are leaders in utility-scale solar, with solar comprising 19% and 23% of their electricity mix, respectively.
The rise of solar energy is part of a broader transition to clean energy. According to Ember, an independent climate think tank, solar and wind energy combined provided 12% of the world's power in 2022, up from 10% in 2021. This growth is significant because it is outpacing the increase in global electricity demand. In 2023, solar and wind energy grew by 513TWh, while global electricity demand increased by 627TWh.
The shift towards solar energy and other renewables is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. As countries electrify more parts of their energy systems, such as transportation, low-carbon electricity sources like solar will become even more important. The continued growth and adoption of solar energy are expected to play a key role in helping the US and other countries meet their climate targets and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
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Utility-scale solar accounted for 8% of the US capacity in 2023
Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in the US. In 2022, solar photovoltaics made up 4.7% of US electricity generation, an increase of nearly 21% over the 2021 total. In 2023, solar energy accounted for about 5.6% of electricity generation in the US, up from a 4.8% share in 2022. This increase is due to the country installing a lot more solar capacity. The US added 10.7 gigawatts of solar in 2020, 13.6 GW in 2021, and 11.1 GW in 2022. The 2023 figures are expected to be even higher.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that solar generation will make up 14% of the US total in 2035 and 20% in 2050. The growing share of utility-scale generation is influenced by the availability of a 10% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) after 2023. However, the ITC for small-scale solar has expired.
In 2023, America's capacity to generate carbon-free electricity grew, continuing a decade-long growth trend for renewable energy. Solar and wind power combined generated enough electricity to power over 61 million average American homes. Solar and wind are expected to lead the growth in US power generation for the next few years.
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Solar and wind are the fastest-growing electricity sources
Solar and wind power are the fastest-growing electricity sources in history, according to analysis from thinktank Ember. In 2022, solar added a record 245 terawatt-hours (TWh) of generation, while wind added 312 TWh. Together, they accounted for 80% of the world's increased need for electricity that year.
The share of solar within the global energy mix reached 5.5% in 2023, up from 4.6% in 2022. The share of wind stayed at 7.8%. No other sources of electricity generation have ever grown from 100TWh per year to 1,000TWh faster than solar and wind, which took just eight and 12 years, respectively. This is far ahead of gas generation at 28 years, coal at 32 years, and hydropower at 39 years.
In the United States, solar and wind are also the fastest-growing renewable energy sources. In 2023, the U.S. electric power sector produced 4,017 billion kilowatthours (kWh) of electric power. Renewable sources, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal, accounted for 22% of generation, or 874 billion kWh. Solar is the fastest-growing renewable source because of larger capacity additions and favorable tax credit policies. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that most of the nation's new energy capacity will come from renewables like solar and wind, shifting the energy mix away from fossil fuels.
According to Ember, clean electricity generation is expected to grow even faster, with wind, solar, and other clean energy sources adding an estimated 1,300TWh in 2024. This would be more than double the increase in 2023 (493TWh). As a result, fossil generation will decline by 333TWh or 2% in 2024. Ember's analysis shows that renewables met a record 30% of global electricity demand in 2023, and emissions from the sector would already have peaked if not for a fall in hydropower. The rise of wind and solar has been stemming the growth of fossil fuel power, which would have been 22% higher in 2023 without them.
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Solar energy in California: 27.3% in 2023
Solar energy is the largest source of California's renewable electricity generation. California has the largest solar market in the U.S. and has long championed solar energy due to its many economic and environmental benefits. In 2023, California had about 1.2 million registered electric vehicles, the most of any state. The state also has the nation's top solar power generation, with solar energy providing 27.3% of its electricity generation.
California's southeastern deserts host the state's most abundant solar resources, with all solar thermal facilities and several of its largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plants located in this region. The state has over 49,000 MW of installed capacity, with solar supplying more than 31% of its electricity. However, California must expand its solar energy usage to achieve its climate and energy goals.
The state's renewable portfolio standard requires 60% of California's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030, increasing to 100% by 2045. Solar power has been rapidly growing in California due to high insolation, community support, declining solar costs, and the renewable portfolio standard. Most people in California's desert regions support large-scale solar development, with a 2012 survey showing that nearly 80% strongly favoured solar power expansion in their communities.
The state's energy storage deployment is also rapidly accelerating, with a 1,250% increase in procurement since 2019. California leads the way with over 13,000 MW of storage capacity across nearly 155,000 sites. By 2045, the state expects to reach 52,000 MW of storage. Additionally, California has about 16,800 public charging stations for electric vehicles, and significant growth has occurred in the adoption of behind-the-meter solar PV systems and battery energy storage systems.
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Solar energy in Nevada: 23% in 2023
Solar energy is an increasingly important source of electricity in the United States. In 2023, solar energy accounted for approximately 5.6% of electricity generation in the US, up from 4.8% in 2022. California was the state with the largest percentage of its electricity generation from solar power, at around 27.3%.
Nevada is one of the states for which solar energy comprises a significant portion of its electricity mix. In 2023, utility-scale solar contributed 23% (9,733 GWh) of the electricity in Nevada, up from less than 0.5% of the total electricity generated in 2014. Nevada has long been a top state for solar energy, with numerous utility-scale, residential, and commercial solar projects. The state offers favourable tax incentives and has abundant solar resources, particularly on tribal lands.
Nevada's first utility-scale solar power plant on tribal land, the 250-megawatt Moapa Southern Paiute Solar Project, became fully operational in 2017. The project is located on land leased from the Moapa Tribe about 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Two additional large solar projects came online on the Moapa River Indian Reservation in 2023: the 300-megawatt Eagle Shadow Mountain project and the 200-megawatt Arrow Canyon Solar Project.
The Clark County solar plant, located northwest of Las Vegas, is the largest operating solar plant in Nevada as of July 2023, with a capacity of 300 megawatts. The state's capacity for solar power is projected to increase further in 2024 with the Gemini solar facility, which will add 690 MW of solar capacity and 380 MW of battery storage. This will enable the facility to capture and store energy to meet evening electricity demand.
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Frequently asked questions
Solar energy accounted for 5.6% of electricity generation in the US in 2023, up from 4.8% in 2022. Utility-scale solar accounted for around 8% of the nation's capacity from all utility-scale electricity sources.
The share of solar within the global energy mix reached 5.5% in 2023, up from 4.6% in 2022. Solar and wind energy combined provided 12% of the world's power in 2022, up from 10% in 2021.
California had the largest percentage of its electricity generation from solar in 2023, with approximately 27.3%. Nevada was also high, with solar contributing 23% of its electricity in 2023.
Yes, solar and wind energy are the fastest-growing sources of electricity in history. The share of solar energy within the global energy mix is expected to continue to increase, with fossil fuel generation expected to decline.
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