I am delighted to tell you again that there is no way to keep up with all of the good news in renewable energy, electric vehicles, green manufacturing, and the rest. It just keeps pouring in, more, faster, better, cheaper all the time. I just have to swing a bucket through the fire hose. For example,
This SEIA projection of 500 GW of solar to be installed in the next decade is for the US alone.
Solar Industry Growing at a Record Pace
Solar energy in the United States is booming. Along with our partners at Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and The Solar Foundation, SEIA tracks trends and trajectories in the solar industry that demonstrate the diverse and sustained growth of solar across the country.
Below you will find charts and information summarizing the state of solar in the U.S. If you're looking for more data, explore our resources page. In addition, SEIA Members have access to presentation slide decks that contain this data and much more.
In the last decade alone, solar has experienced an average annual growth rate of 24%. Thanks to strong federal policies like the solar Investment Tax Credit, rapidly declining costs, and increasing demand across the private and public sector for clean electricity, there are now more than 155 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity installed nationwide, enough to power 27 million homes.
As of 2022, more than 263,000 Americans work in solar at more than 10,000 companies in every U.S. state. In 2022, the solar industry generated nearly $35 billion of private investment in the American economy.
Solar has added the most generating capacity to the grid each of the last four years and has done so again through the first half of 2023. 45% of all new electric capacity added to the grid in 2023 has come from solar. Solar’s increasing competitiveness against other technologies has allowed it to quickly increase its share of total U.S. electrical generation - from just 0.1% in 2010 to over 5% today.
That’s an increase of 50 times, or 5000%. We only need another multiple of 10 times, plus comparable growth in wind.
And much more in that rich vein.
Solar Means Business
U.S. businesses and top global brands are making historic investments in solar energy. As of June 2022, Meta leads the nation with the most solar capacity installed, followed closely by Amazon, Apple, Walmart and Microsoft. Nearly 19 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity has been installed with commercial and corporate off-takers, more than half of which has come online since 2020.
SEIA’s ninth Solar Means Business Report tracks solar and energy storage adoption by businesses across the U.S., ranging from some of the country’s largest and most recognizable brands to the small businesses that make up our communities. In addition to the solar systems located on rooftops and at commercial facilities, this report also captures large off-site installations that U.S. companies invest in to power their operations, which now account for 55% of all commercial solar use.
Through June 2022, this report tracks more than 18,500 megawatts (MW) of installed solar capacity across 48,000 projects, representing more than 70% of all commercial solar capacity installed in the U.S.
Tech
Rank |
Company |
GW installed |
1. |
Meta |
3,588.1 |
2. |
Amazon |
1,114.5 |
3. |
Apple |
987.3 |
4. |
Microsoft |
550.6 |
5. |
Switch |
234.0 |
Retail
|
|
Rank |
Company |
GW installed |
1. |
Walmart |
688.9 |
2. |
Target |
515.1 |
3. |
Home Depot |
140.0 |
4. |
IKEA |
57.6 |
5. |
Macys |
53.3 |
Local to Me
Cummins: Hydrogen fuel cell trains are on the fast track
The Republic, Columbus IN: First hydrogen-powered passenger train in North America helps Accelera by Cummins assess technology
A hydrogen-powered passenger train equipped with technology from Columbus-based Accelera by Cummins that has been transporting travelers through a biosphere reserve in Canada as part of a demonstration project is winding down operations.
In June, the Coradia iLint became the first passenger train in North America to be powered by hydrogen when it started taking riders through the Charlevoix region of Quebec, Canada, which has been designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The train is part of a demonstration project by France-based Alstom that seeks to assess subsequent steps for developing hydrogen propulsion technology and penetration into the North America market. Alstom said in February that the project would test a first-ever green hydrogen ecosystem dedicated to rail transportation on the continent.
Manufactured by Alstom, the Coradia iLint uses Accelera fuel cells to power the train and is supplied with green hydrogen from an Accelera electrolyzer. Accelera is a business segment of Cummins Inc. and is headquartered in Columbus.
I have started a Hydrogen Fuel Cell section in my Electric Vehicles and Tools board on
Pinterest. Trains, so far, but aircraft and sea transport coming.