Electrical
April 25, 2025
Overcast skies for U.S. solar?
Written by Greg Wittbecker
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released its U.S. Solar Market Insight 2024 Year in Review last month. It highlighted some growth in some sectors but also pointed out some sobering numbers on residential installations.
The details:
• US solar industry installed nearly 50 gigawatts direct current (GWdc) – a measure of power generation – of capacity in 2024 , a 21% increase from 2023. This was the second consecutive year of record capacity growth
• Solar accounted for 66% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the US grid.
• Commercial solar segment installed 2,118 megawatts direct current (MWdc) in 2024, setting an annual record and marking 8% year-over-year growth. A thousand MWdc = one GWdc.
• Community solar segment installed 1,745 MWdc in 2024, marking its largest-ever year of capacity and a 35% increase over 2023. Big growth in Illinois, Maine and New York
• Utility-scale segment installed a record-breaking 41.4 GWdc in 2024, a 33% year-over-year increase and the second consecutive annual record. Twenty-five percent installed in Texas
• The residential segment installed 4,710 MWdc, a 32% decline from 2023. This was the segment’s lowest year on installed capacity since 2021
