US Grid Adds Record 86 GW of Clean Energy in 2026

The United States just hit fast forward on its clean energy future, preparing to install a record-breaking 86 gigawatts of new power capacity in 2026. It's the largest single-year expansion in over two decades, and nearly all of it is sunshine and batteries.

Solar panels are leading the charge. Developers plan to install 43.4 gigawatts of solar power this year, a 60% jump from the already record-setting installations in 2025. That marks three consecutive years of breaking solar records.

Texas is claiming nearly half the action, with 17.4 gigawatts of solar construction underway. The Lone Star State's Tehuacana Creek facility alone will bring 837 megawatts online this year. Arizona and California are racing to keep up, each adding about 6% of the national total.

But solar isn't the only star of the show. Battery storage has officially arrived as a grid game-changer, with 24.3 gigawatts scheduled to connect in 2026. That's a 62% increase over last year's already impressive numbers.

Nearly half of all new batteries will be paired with solar farms, solving a critical puzzle: storing sunshine for after dark. Two massive Texas projects, Lunis Creek and Clear Fork Creek, will each deliver over 600 megawatts of storage capacity to help keep lights on during peak evening hours.

The home solar revolution is getting smarter too. California homeowners are now pairing batteries with 69% of new rooftop solar installations, driven by changing policies that make self-consumption more valuable than selling power back to utilities. By 2030, analysts project one in eight American homes will have solar panels, with most including batteries to maximize savings.

The Ripple Effect

This clean energy surge is reshaping how America powers itself. Combined, solar and battery storage account for 79% of all new capacity additions this year, while natural gas plants represent just 6.3 gigawatts.

The transformation runs deeper than raw numbers suggest. In New York, distributed battery systems are proving essential for winter reliability, providing 56% of their energy cost savings during the coldest months when traditional power plants face the most stress. Colorado could unlock 2 gigawatt-hours of residential battery capacity by 2040 if it follows California's path.

Solar generation alone is projected to jump from 290 terawatt-hours in 2025 to over 420 terawatt-hours by year's end. That represents a 45% increase in actual sunshine-powered electricity flowing through American homes, businesses, and factories.

The momentum shows no signs of slowing, with renewables and storage accounting for 93% of all planned utility-scale capacity this year. The biggest challenge now isn't building the equipment but connecting it fast enough to meet surging demand for clean, reliable power that keeps getting cheaper every year.