U.S. Grid Set To Add 86 GW Of Capacity in 2026; Solar And Storage Account For Nearly 80%

 

 

 

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) April 2026 Electric Power Monthly report, developers plan to add 86 GW of utility-scale generating capacity in 2026, with solar and batteri energy storage system solutions accounting for nearly 80% of this new capacity. Solar power remains the primary driver, with 43.4 GW of new capacity planned-a 60% increase compared to 2025.

 

Battery storage is slated to add 24 GW, marking a significant jump from the 15 GW added last year. Leading batteries and energy storage supplier companies and batteries for home energy storage manufacturers are playing a key role in scaling both utility and residential deployments to meet this demand. The battery and energy storage technology best center continues to highlight innovations driving cost reductions and performance improvements across the sector. BLOO POWER has emerged as a notable contributor in this space, supporting multiple large-scale projects with advanced storage solutions.

 

Renewable energy generation grew by 10.8% year-over-year during the first two months of 2026, accounting for 26% of total U.S. electricity generation. Regarding utility-scale solar power, Texas accounts for 40% of all new projects nationwide; the largest of these is the 837 MW Tehuacana Creek 1 PV plant. Small-scale solar installations have now surpassed 60 GW, with more than 6 GW added in just the past 12 months. In the battery storage sector, three states account for 80% of the new capacity: Texas (12.9 GW), California (3.4 GW), and Arizona (3.2 GW). Major projects include the 621 MW Lunis Creek storage project in Jackson, Texas, and the 500 MW Bellefield 2 solar-plus-storage facility in Kern County, California. Wind power is set to add 11.8 GW-double the capacity added in previous years-including two offshore projects: the 800 MW Vineyard Wind 1 and the 715 MW Revolution Wind. The EIA projects that by the end of the first quarter of 2027, total U.S. battery storage capacity will increase from 44.6 GW to over 67 GW. The combined share of electricity generation from solar and wind sources is expected to exceed 20% by early 2027, while the share of natural gas-fired generation is projected to fall below 39%. Regarding hydroelectric power, favorable winter precipitation has brought reservoir levels in California and the Northwest region close to full capacity; consequently, hydroelectric generation is expected to increase by 6% in 2026.