Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States
United States: Solar energy generation vs. capacity was 392,747 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States, 1983–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States stood at 392,747 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 28.0% on the previous year and up 896.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States peaked at 392,747 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3 terawatt-hours, in 1983.
United States ranks 2nd of 79 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 3 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 5.3 terawatt-hours | +76.7% |
| 1985 | 10.74 terawatt-hours | +102.6% |
| 1986 | 14.17 terawatt-hours | +32.0% |
| 1987 | 10.6 terawatt-hours | -25.2% |
| 1988 | 9.19 terawatt-hours | -13.4% |
| 1989 | 253.13 terawatt-hours | +2655.7% |
| 1990 | 370.8 terawatt-hours | +46.5% |
| 1991 | 478.25 terawatt-hours | +29.0% |
| 1992 | 408.84 terawatt-hours | -14.5% |
| 1993 | 475.16 terawatt-hours | +16.2% |
| 1994 | 501.87 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 514.47 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 541.34 terawatt-hours | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 532.7 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 524.66 terawatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 518.34 terawatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 518.51 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 574.35 terawatt-hours | +10.8% |
| 2002 | 601.6 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 610.65 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 698.13 terawatt-hours | +14.3% |
| 2005 | 748.9 terawatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 824.43 terawatt-hours | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 1,095 terawatt-hours | +32.9% |
| 2008 | 1,633 terawatt-hours | +49.1% |
| 2009 | 2,076 terawatt-hours | +27.1% |
| 2010 | 3,013 terawatt-hours | +45.1% |
| 2011 | 4,739 terawatt-hours | +57.3% |
| 2012 | 9,037 terawatt-hours | +90.7% |
| 2013 | 16,040 terawatt-hours | +77.5% |
| 2014 | 29,216 terawatt-hours | +82.1% |
| 2015 | 39,426 terawatt-hours | +34.9% |
| 2016 | 55,420 terawatt-hours | +40.6% |
| 2017 | 78,058 terawatt-hours | +40.8% |
| 2018 | 94,308 terawatt-hours | +20.8% |
| 2019 | 107,974 terawatt-hours | +14.5% |
| 2020 | 132,041 terawatt-hours | +22.3% |
| 2021 | 166,083 terawatt-hours | +25.8% |
| 2022 | 207,145 terawatt-hours | +24.7% |
| 2023 | 241,351 terawatt-hours | +16.5% |
| 2024 | 306,820 terawatt-hours | +27.1% |
| 2025 | 392,747 terawatt-hours | +28.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 392,747 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,936 terawatt-hours, 79.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +2655.7% | 9.19 terawatt-hours | 253.13 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.73 terawatt-hours | 3 terawatt-hours | 253.13 terawatt-hours | 7 |
| 1990s | 486.64 terawatt-hours | 370.8 terawatt-hours | 541.34 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 938.1 terawatt-hours | 518.51 terawatt-hours | 2,076 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 43,723 terawatt-hours | 3,013 terawatt-hours | 107,974 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 241,031 terawatt-hours | 132,041 terawatt-hours | 392,747 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More energy & mining data for United States
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 7.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States?
- Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United States was 392,747 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 392,747 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 terawatt-hours in 1983.
- How does United States rank for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation vs. capacity rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 896.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.