The US added 7.8 GW of latest photo voltaic capability within the first quarter of 2026, surpassing 6 million cumulative installations as photo voltaic remained the main supply of latest energy added to the grid. Regardless of altering tax coverage and regulatory actions concentrating on clear vitality, photo voltaic and vitality storage represented 91% of latest capability put in in Q1 as utilities, owners and companies search vitality safety amid world fuel and fuel turbine provide disruptions.
The “U.S. Solar Market Insight 2026 Q2 Report” launched at this time by SEIA and Wooden Mackenzie finds that contracts for utility-scale photo voltaic rose 15% 12 months over 12 months, fueled by tech firms securing energy to satisfy rising AI-driven electrical energy demand.
“In a world of fluctuating gasoline costs, vitality patrons have made it clear that they need the safety, low value and pace of photo voltaic and storage, which commanded an enormous 91% of all new capability in-built Q1,” mentioned Darren Van’t Hof, interim president and CEO of SEIA. “But, as energy demand skyrockets, political and regulatory assaults are slowing down the precise sources we depend on. Impeding the one sector that’s actively constructing new energy is a reckless gamble that can solely drive electrical energy payments greater. The stakes are just too excessive for Washington’s allowing gridlock to proceed.”
If the federal allowing slowdown continues, Individuals’ electrical payments will proceed to rise and China will surge additional forward within the race for AI management, SEIA claims. A separate SEIA analysis reveals that 457 photo voltaic and storage initiatives have permits pending and are weak to politically motivated delays or cancellations.
“We’re forecasting that U.S. photo voltaic additions will likely be flat over the following 5 years regardless of the necessity for extra energy provide within the U.S.,” mentioned Michelle Davis, head of photo voltaic at Wooden Mackenzie. “We’ve seen a notable improve in photo voltaic procurements in utility useful resource planning, however present allowing bottlenecks proceed to function near-term headwinds.”
Texas continued its dominance because the fastest-growing photo voltaic market, with Ohio surging into the High 3 states for deployment this quarter. Michigan, Oregon and Mississippi additionally notched notable quarters.
The residential photo voltaic market is anticipated to say no by 21% in 2026, however forecasts present the sector will see constant progress between 2027 and 2031. In Q1, a document 45% of residential photo voltaic installations had been paired with battery vitality storage.
Information merchandise from SEIA
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