Solar capacity is on track to overtake U.S. natural gas generation by 2027, according to newly released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The figures, reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign, indicate electrical generation from renewables grew more than 10% in the first third of 2026.
Utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage are projected to add more than 78.5 GW of new capacity. This surge in renewables is reshaping the generation mix, with solar alone expected to surpass gas-fired power plants within two years if current deployment trends continue.
Grid-scale battery storage is playing a crucial role in enabling higher renewable penetration, storing excess solar power for evening peaks. The EIA's projections highlight a structural shift in U.S. energy infrastructure, with renewables increasingly competing with dispatchable fossil fuel generation.
Critics, however, argue that solar's intermittency remains a challenge. Without significant additions of long-duration storage or gas backup, grid reliability could be strained during prolonged cloudy periods or winter months, they contend.
The SUN DAY Campaign, a renewable energy advocacy group, has been analyzing EIA data for years. Its latest review underscores the accelerating pace of the energy transition, though capacity additions and interconnection queues remain subject to regulatory and supply chain constraints.