EIA: 80 GW of new solar, wind + storage capacity coming in 2026
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- EIA projects 80 GW of new solar, wind, and battery storage capacity by February 28, 2027
- Renewables grow to 36.6% of U.S. utility-scale capacity, up from 33.4% as of March 1, 2026
- Battery energy storage increases 51.4%, from 44,630.7 MW to 67,549.6 MW, during the forecast period
Why it matters: Renewables will command 39.7% of U.S. capacity by March 2027 if small-scale solar keeps pace, overtaking natural gas — a structural shift that weakens fossil fuel plant economics and reshapes grid planning.
