The U.S. has reached 299.4 GW of cumulative operating solar capacity across more than 6.2 million installed systems, enough to power over 50 million homes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

The industry installed 11.4 GW of new capacity in the second quarter of 2026, up 45% year on year and 43% from the first quarter, with utility-scale projects accounting for 9.6 GW, a 61% increase. Solar and storage represented 70% of all new generating capacity added in the first half.

Solar now supplies nearly 9% of U.S. power generation, about seven times its share a decade ago. California and Texas lead total solar deployment at 56.46 GW and 55.13 GW respectively, followed by Florida, Arizona and North Carolina.

Domestic manufacturing has also expanded, with more than $18 billion invested in factory construction across 43 states. Operational module capacity has reached 75.3 GW, with 14.4 GW under construction, while cell manufacturing stands at 10.6 GW operational and 19.1 GW being built. Cumulative domestic production of solar modules reached 100 GW during the quarter.

Despite macroeconomic pressures and the expiration of residential tax credits that temporarily cooled the rooftop sector, long-term industry projections remain robust. Domestic solar market is expected to nearly double over five years, with average annual buildout of about 44 GW through 2031 and total deployment reaching 769 GW by 2036.

Looking out toward mid-century grid projections, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that solar and storage will account for 67% of all planned grid capacity additions through 2030, with solar specifically representing 44% of new grid builds. By 2060, roughly half of all new annual power generation added to the national electrical grid is projected to come from solar energy.