Solar Surge Outpaces US Grid Demand Growth in 2026

US electricity use rose 2 percent in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to Ars Technica. That is a slower pace than the 3 percent increase recorded in the same period of 2025.

Solar power drove the largest supply increase. Solar generated 48 terawatt-hours more in the first seven months of 2026 than in the same period of 2025, up from a 39 terawatt-hour year-over-year increase in 2025. Solar's growth rate reached 22 percent, and small-scale solar grew by over 12 percent.

Coal generation declined by a bit over 10 percent from the same period the year before. Solar produced 72 percent as much electricity as coal over the first seven months of 2026.

Other sources also rose: hydro is up 9 percent, wind by 6 percent, and nuclear and natural gas both by less than 2 percent. Wind and solar now cover 21 percent of US electricity demand, while renewables including hydro cover 27 percent. With nuclear, non-carbon-emitting sources cover 45 percent of US electricity use.

Growth from wind and solar was 55 terawatt-hours, while grid demand rose by 51 terawatt-hours. For comparison, the EU generates about 30 percent of its electricity using wind and solar, and 65 percent is emissions-free.