Renewables’ installed capacity to beat natural gas by 2027 – EIA data
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- U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports renewable electricity generation rose 11.1% year‑over‑year in Q1 2026, led by utility‑scale solar (+23.9%) and hydropower (+21.9%).
- Renewable capacity is projected to reach 533,320 MW by early 2027, surpassing natural‑gas capacity of 514,868 MW when small‑scale solar is added.
- Utility‑scale solar will add 42,626 MW of new capacity in the next year, expanding its share of U.S. generation from 12.8% to 15.7%.
- Battery storage is expected to grow by over 50%, reaching 69,971 MW by April 2027 after adding 23,524 MW of new capacity.
- Wind and other renewables will contribute an additional 14,157 MW (including 4,155 MW offshore) and 297 MW respectively, pushing overall renewable share of utility‑scale capacity to 36.6% by March 2027.
Why it matters: Utilities and clean‑energy investors gain as renewables become the largest generation source, while natural‑gas plants face capacity cuts; the shift adds >80 GW of clean capacity, reshaping the U.S. power mix by 2027.
