The United States is on track to set a new record for electricity generation capacity in 2025, driven primarily by solar and battery energy storage, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). A total of 64 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity is anticipated this year, with 33.3 GW coming from solar and 18.3 GW from battery storage. If realized, this would mark the strongest year yet for energy storage installations in the country. Batteries already made up 5.9 GW—about 26%—of new additions in the first half of 2025, with nearly half of those installations concentrated in Arizona and California. Texas is also expected to play a central role, potentially adding 7 GW of battery projects later this year.

Solar deployment is accelerating in the second half of 2025, with 21 GW expected to come online compared to 12 GW in the first half. Texas leads this expansion, already contributing 27% of new solar capacity this year and planning nearly 10 GW more before December. The EIA emphasized that this surge reflects both seasonal patterns in construction and tightened deadlines tied to federal clean energy tax credits. By contrast, wind projects are expected to add 7.8 GW this year, while natural gas lags with 4.7 GW. Retirements in fossil fuel plants are also underway, though some closures have been delayed or cancelled, including major coal, oil, and gas units in Maryland and Texas.

Overall, 2025 marks a turning point for U.S. energy development. Unlike the last record year in 2002, which was dominated by natural gas, this year’s milestone is set to be led by renewable energy and storage, signaling a significant shift in the nation’s power mix.