EcoWatch
Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k Subscribe Subscribe
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Conservation
  • Food + Agriculture
  • Renewables
  • Oceans
  • Policy
  • Insights + Opinion
  • Go Solar Today
      • Top Companies By State
        • California Solar Companies
        • Texas Solar Companies
        • New York Solar Companies
        • Florida Solar Companies
        • See All States
      • Top Incentives By State
        • California Solar Incentives
        • Texas Solar Incentives
        • New York Solar Incentives
        • Florida Solar Incentives
        • See All States
      • Solar Panel Costs By State
        • Solar Panel Costs in California
        • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
        • Solar Panel Costs in New York
        • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
        • See All States
      • Value of Solar by State
        • Is Solar Worth It In California?
        • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
        • Is Solar Worth It New York?
        • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
        • See All States
      • Company Reviews
        • Tesla Solar Review
        • Sunrun Solar Review
        • SunPower Solar Review
        • Vivint Solar Review
        • See All Companies
      • Common Solar Questions
        • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
        • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
        • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
        • Can You Finance Solar?
        • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
        • Payback On Solar Panels?
      • Solar Resources
        • Interactive Solar Calculator
        • Federal Solar Tax Credit
        • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
        • Tesla Solar Roof Review
        • Cheapest Solar Panels
      • Companies Compared
        • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs SunPower
        • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
        • SunPower vs ADT Solar
EcoWatch
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Conservation
  • Food + Agriculture
  • Renewables
  • Oceans
  • Policy
  • Insights + Opinion
  • Go Solar Today
    • Go Solar Today
    • Top Companies By State
      • California Solar Companies
      • Texas Solar Companies
      • New York Solar Companies
      • Florida Solar Companies
      • See All States
    • Top Incentives By State
      • California Solar Incentives
      • Texas Solar Incentives
      • New York Solar Incentives
      • Florida Solar Incentives
      • See All States
    • Solar Panel Costs By State
      • Solar Panel Costs in California
      • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
      • Solar Panel Costs in New York
      • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
      • See All States
    • Value of Solar by State
      • Is Solar Worth It In California?
      • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
      • Is Solar Worth It New York?
      • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
      • See All States
    • Company Reviews
      • Tesla Solar Review
      • Sunrun Solar Review
      • SunPower Solar Review
      • Vivint Solar Review
      • See All Companies
    • Common Solar Questions
      • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
      • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
      • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
      • Can You Finance Solar?
      • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
      • Payback On Solar Panels?
    • Solar Resources
      • Interactive Solar Calculator
      • Federal Solar Tax Credit
      • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
      • Tesla Solar Roof Review
      • Cheapest Solar Panels
    • Companies Compared
      • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs SunPower
      • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
      • SunPower vs ADT Solar

The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k
    EcoWatch
    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k
    Home Renewable Energy

    54% of New Electric-Generating Capacity in U.S. Will Be Solar in 2023, EIA Says

    By: Paige Bennett
    Published: February 6, 2023
    Edited by Chris McDermott
    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon
    Solar panels installed on the rooftops of buildings in San Francisco, California
    Solar panels installed on the rooftops of buildings in San Francisco, California. Sundry Photography / iStock / Getty Images Plus
    Why you can trust us

    Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

    A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects 54% of new electric-generating capacity in the U.S. to come from solar energy for 2023. Developers are planning to add 54.5 gigawatts of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity to the country’s power grid this year, most of it being solar, according to EIA’s Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, in which developers and power plant operators report upcoming projects to EIA.

    Developers have about 29.1 gigawatts of utility-scale solar capacity planned for 2023, following a recent decline of 23% from 2022 compared to 2021. Prior to that decline, solar electric-generating capacity had been rising since 2010, but supply chain issues and the pandemic lead to a decline last year. EIA predicts that delayed projects from 2022 may be part of the high percentage of the electric-generating capacity coming from solar projects for 2023.

    EIA also noted that should all of these planned projects go into operations for 2023, this year will have the highest amount of utility-scale solar capacity added in one year. The current record is 13.4 gigawatts of utility-scale solar capacity added in 2021.

    Texas will be home to the highest amount of new solar capacity at 7.7 gigawatts, followed by California at 4.2 gigawatts.

    More From EcoWatch
    • The Best Solar Companies in Texas (2023 Review)
    • Solar Panel Cost in California (2023 Local Savings Guide)
    • These 10 States Are Leading Solar Energy Installation

    After solar, battery storage makes up the next highest percentage of new utility-scale electric-generating capacity in the U.S. for 2023, comprising 17% of projects planned for the year. Developers expect to add 9.4 gigawatts to the country’s current 8.8 gigawatts of battery storage electric-generating capacity.

    “Battery storage systems are increasingly installed with wind and solar power projects,” EIA explained. “Wind and solar are intermittent sources of generation; they only produce electricity when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. Batteries can store excess electricity from wind and solar generators for later use. In 2023, we expect 71% of the new battery storage capacity will be in California and Texas, states with significant solar and wind capacity.”

    Other utility-scale electric-generating capacity projects include 7.5 gigawatts of natural gas, with the two largest projects planned for Ohio and Illinois, 6.0 gigawatts of wind power, primarily planned for Texas, and 2.2 gigawatts of nuclear energy. For the first time in over 30 years, two new nuclear reactors have been built in the U.S. and are expected to come online this year, following a long, several-year delay.

    In 2023, EIA reported that only one offshore wind project is expected to begin operations this year, the South Fork Wind plant off of New York.

    Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

      By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

      Paige Bennett

      Based in Los Angeles, Paige is a writer who is passionate about sustainability. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University and holds a certificate in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She also specialized in sustainable agriculture while pursuing her undergraduate degree.
      Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

      Read More

      NOAA: 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted to Be Above Normal With 13 to 19 Named Storms
      The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s outlook
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
      IEA Warns of Potential Shortages of Copper as Demand Increases For Renewables
      A recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has
      By Paige Bennett
      States Can Take Meaningful Climate Action, Even Without Federal Support: Study
      State action to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes

      Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

        By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

        Latest Articles

        • Pollination ‘Magic’ Happens at Night Too, First-of-Its-Kind Study Finds
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 23, 2025
        • Humpback Whales Give Birth During Epic Migrations and Continue Traveling: Study
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 23, 2025
        • Plants Produce More Nectar in Response to the Sound of Buzzing Bees: Study
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 23, 2025
        • NOAA: 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted to Be Above Normal With 13 to 19 Named Storms
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 22, 2025
        • IEA Warns of Potential Shortages of Copper as Demand Increases For Renewables
          by Paige Bennett
          May 22, 2025
        • States Can Take Meaningful Climate Action, Even Without Federal Support: Study
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 22, 2025
        • Cultural Values on Indigenous Lands Help Forests Thrive at Nearly Twice the Rate of Protected Areas: Study
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          May 21, 2025
        • Removal of Invasive Bullfrogs Leads to Increase of Native Pond Turtles in Yosemite, Study Finds
          by Paige Bennett
          May 21, 2025
        EcoWatch

        The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

          • Climate Climate
          • Animals Animals
          • Health + Wellness Health + Wellness
          • Insights + Opinion Insights + Opinion
          • Adventure Adventure
          • Oceans Oceans
          • Business Business
          • Solar Solar
          • About EcoWatch
          • Contact EcoWatch
          • EcoWatch Reviews
          • Terms of Use
          • Privacy Policy
          • Learn About Solar Energy
          • Learn About Deregulated Energy
          • EcoWatch UK
          Follow Us
          Facebook 558k
          Twitter 222k
          Instagram 52k
          Subscribe Subscribe

          Experts for a healthier planet and life.

          Mentioned by:
          Learn more
          • Privacy Policy
          • Terms of Use
          • Cookie Preferences
          • Do Not Sell My Information
          © 2025 EcoWatch. All Rights Reserved.

          Advertiser Disclosure

          Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.

          The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.