Breaking: 2025 Solar Surge Drives Most U.S. Power Growth as Storage Expands
In a year-end analysis of U.S. energy data, solar power carried a decisive share of the nation’s rising electricity demand in 2025. The study, drawing on coordinates from Ember and the Energy Details Governance, finds solar supplying 61% of total demand growth, with generation jumping a record 83 TWh and rising 27% as overall demand climbed 3.1% (135 TWh).
The findings underscore a transition: solar is not only growing, but increasingly meeting fresh demand where it matters. The report notes that most new solar output occurred in regions where demand was strongest, helping curb the need for fossil-fired generation in several areas.
The analysis, based on year-end EIA data and Ember’s review, highlights several notable patterns. See below for a compact snapshot of the year’s key figures and the regional shifts that defined 2025 solar growth.
| Key Metric | 2025 Result | Context / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total electricity demand growth | +135 TWh (+3.1%) | Overall demand rose alongside expanding economic activity and population growth. |
| Solar generation | +83 TWh (+27%) | Record annual increase in solar output. |
| Solar’s share of demand growth | 61% | Solar drove the majority of rise in electricity use. |
| Regions with strong solar support | Texas and the Midwest each met 81% of demand growth; Mid-Atlantic 33% | Solar aligned with demand surges in large markets. |
| Florida and other regions | Florida: solar growth exceeded demand growth; Southwest, Northwest, Southeast, California: near-total matching | Some states outpaced demand growth while others absorbed most increases in solar form. |
| Storage and capacity | Battery capacity +133% to 26 GW; utility-scale solar capacity additions ~6% lower than 2024 | Batteries helped shift solar toward all-day use; permitting and grid-connection delays weighed on capacity adds. |
| State penetration | California 37%, Nevada 34%; 37 states <10% | Uneven adoption across the country remains a defining feature. |
| Duck curve and daytime share | No national duck curve; solar provided ~20% of generation during the sunniest hour | Even at peak sun, non-solar needs outweighed daytime solar output. |
| Policy and market dynamics | California net metering adjustments; grid-connection delays persisted | Policy shifts and permitting hurdles influenced the pace of deployment. |
Where solar grew strongest
Solar gains were largest in regions with the biggest demand increases. Texas led utility-scale solar growth, with solar meeting 81% of the state’s demand rise. The Midwest also recorded an 81% share of demand growth covered by solar, while the Mid-Atlantic region saw solar meeting about one third of its rising grid demand. In Florida, solar growth outpaced demand growth, contributing to a reduction in fossil fuel use. In the Southwest,Northwest,Southeast and California,solar closely matched most of the demand uptick.
Daytime strength, with growing evening resilience
Hourly analysis shows solar dramatically reducing daytime demand pressures from 10:00 to 18:00 Eastern Time, effectively meeting all growth during that window. Batteries enabled some evening coverage from 18:00 to 02:00 ET, signaling a shift toward dispatchable, all-day solar power. Overnight growth still leaned on coal and natural gas to fill the gap.
Storage reshapes solar’s role
Ember emphasizes that battery growth is transforming solar from a cheap daytime resource into a reliable, flexible power source.California’s solar-plus-battery output expanded 58% over six years, while the peak-sun hour’s output rose only 8%, illustrating a clear drift toward later hours and more balanced daily profiles.
Capacity, policy and state-by-state gaps
Despite a record year for generation, 2025 utility-scale solar capacity additions were about 6% below 2024 levels, partially due to tariff uncertainty on imported panels and ongoing grid-connection approvals. California’s net metering rule changes reinforced solar’s growth in the residential segment, while batteries followed a different trajectory with rapid expansion.
state-level penetration remains uneven. California and Nevada led with the highest solar shares at 37% and 34%, respectively, yet 37 states registered solar shares below 10% over the past year. New Mexico stood out for rapid growth, lifting its solar share from 7% to 17% in the 24 months through October 2025.
What comes next for solar in 2026 and beyond
Ember’s assessment argues there is no structural barrier to solar meeting 100% of future demand growth. With demand rising, the case for expanding solar capacity, paired with storage, remains compelling. As one Ember analyst put it, the drive to build solar has never been stronger, given its ability to deliver electricity where and when it’s needed and to curb coal and gas use economically.
These conclusions rest on year-end data from the U.S. Energy Information administration and a thorough analysis by Ember. For readers seeking deeper context, you can review Ember’s study and related data at ember Climate and the official U.S.EIA data releases at U.S. Energy Information Administration.
What this means for households and businesses
Higher solar penetration,reinforced by growing storage,suggests greater daytime affordability and resilience for electric grids,while still requiring careful policy design to unlock full potential in states lagging behind. The rapid pace of battery deployment could also enable more flexible pricing and reliability improvements as solar becomes a more steady, all-day power source.
Questions for readers: Which region do you think will steer solar growth in 2026, and should policy priorities tilt toward maximizing solar-plus-storage or accelerating grid upgrades to integrate even more clean energy?
Share your take in the comments and join the discussion on how solar power could reshape your energy future.