The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects approximately 82.7 gigawatts of new renewable energy and battery storage generation capacity to be added in the United States during the 12 months through July 31, 2027. The projected figure includes 43.56 gigawatts of utility-scale solar, 9.48 gigawatts of wind power, and 23.43 gigawatts of battery storage, in addition to expected growth in distributed solar.
By contrast, the agency does not expect any new nuclear capacity to be added during the same period, while fossil-fuel electricity generation capacity is expected to decline by a net 1.45 gigawatts. The figures are based on the latest Electric Power Monthly report, which includes data through July 31, 2026, along with an additional review by the SUN DAY Campaign.
Renewables Exceeded 29% of Generation
Renewable energy sources produced more than 29% of total U.S. electricity during the first seven months of 2026, up from 26.8% during the corresponding period of the previous year. Renewable electricity generation grew 10.7% year over year, driven by a 22% increase in utility-scale solar generation, a 12.6% increase in small-scale solar, a 9% increase in hydropower, and a 5.9% increase in wind power.
Wind and solar power, including small-scale systems, accounted for 21.6% of U.S. electricity generation. According to the same data, their combined output exceeded that of coal-fired power plants by 49% and was 26% higher than nuclear reactor output. In July, solar was the largest renewable source for the second consecutive month, and its output approached the combined output of wind and hydropower.
Rapid Growth in Storage and Solar Power
During the period from February 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026, utility-scale solar capacity increased by 41,051.6 megawatts, or 32.7%. Small-scale solar also grew by 9,112.4 megawatts, while wind power increased by 12,195.4 megawatts, including 800 megawatts of offshore wind.
Total renewable energy capacity, including hydropower, biomass, and geothermal energy, increased by 62,092 megawatts. Utility-scale battery storage capacity nearly doubled after the addition of 26,629.5 megawatts. As a result, the combined growth of renewable energy and storage exceeded 88,700 megawatts over 18 months.
During the same period, coal capacity declined by 4,131.8 megawatts, while natural-gas capacity increased by 7,561.5 megawatts and nuclear capacity rose by 800.6 megawatts. Combined, the net increase in fossil-fuel and nuclear capacity did not exceed 2,641 megawatts.
What Do the Projections Mean in Practice?
The figures indicate that the expected additions from solar power and battery storage alone represent the largest share of new capacity, with smaller contributions from wind and other renewable sources. However, the final figure is not entirely guaranteed; the EIA does not provide a projection for small-scale solar growth, and the SUN DAY Campaign estimated its contribution at approximately 6,000 megawatts per year or more based on the average of the past five years.
Accordingly, the EIA estimate for utility-scale renewable energy sources and battery storage is 76,662.3 megawatts, rising to approximately 82,700 megawatts when small-scale solar is included. These remain projected figures rather than confirmed operating capacity, making actual implementation and the timing of projects’ grid connections critical factors in assessing their ultimate impact.
The data reflect a practical shift in the U.S. electricity capacity mix: rapid expansion of solar and batteries, alongside a decline in coal and no new nuclear capacity on the near-term horizon. The interpretation of this trend, including an assessment of government policies, remains a matter of opinion; Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign, said that the U.S. administration had bet on the wrong option, a characterization issued by the campaign rather than an independent conclusion established by EIA data.