Key facts
- Solar power generated 12.8% of US electricity in May.
- Coal generated 12.2% of US electricity in May.
- Solar power surpassed coal generation for the first time in May.
- Qcells has started making solar cells at its Cartersville, Georgia factory.
- Qcells is the U.S. solar arm of Korea's Hanwha.
- DIY plug-in solar systems are gaining popularity in the U.S.
- Rising energy costs and new state laws are driving DIY solar adoption.
- Solar has been the largest source of new energy capacity installations for 28 consecutive months.
- FERC data tracks new energy capacity installations.
- The current administration has rolled back clean energy incentives.
For the first time in May, solar power generated a larger share of U.S. electricity than coal, accounting for 12.8% of the total generation compared to coal's 12.2%. This significant milestone in the nation's energy transition occurs even as President Trump has expressed support for the coal industry. The growth of solar power highlights its increasing prominence as a leading energy source in the United States.
Adding to the momentum in the solar sector, Qcells, the U.S. solar division of South Korea's Hanwha, has commenced solar cell production at its factory located in Cartersville, Georgia. This development is a crucial part of the U.S. strategy to decrease its dependence on solar equipment imported from Asia. Concurrently, plug-in solar systems designed for do-it-yourself installation are experiencing a surge in popularity across the U.S. This trend is driven by escalating energy costs and the enactment of new state-level legislation that supports such initiatives. This DIY approach to electricity generation has already seen considerable adoption in Europe.
Further underscoring solar's dominance, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) data indicates that solar power has consistently been the largest source of new energy capacity installations in the U.S. for 28 consecutive months, a trend that concluded at the end of last year. This sustained growth in solar capacity installations persists despite recent actions by the current administration to roll back clean energy incentives.