Solar and storage to lead record-breaking 86 GW of new U.S. capacity in 2026 – pv magazine USA
From Texas-sized utility projects to skyrocketing residential battery attach rates, 2026 marks the year solar and storage transition from the electric grid’s fastest-growing additions to its foundational pillars. February 25, 2026 Ryan Kennedy Project developers and utility operators are preparing for a historic expansion of the U.S. electric grid, with 86 GW of new utility-scale generating capacity slated to come online in 2026. According to the February 2026 Electric Power Monthly report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the surge represents the largest single-year capacity addition in over two decades, nearly doubling the 53 GW installed in 2025. The growth is











