Natural gas remains by far the largest source of electricity in the country, according to research from clean-energy think tank Ember
Wind and solar energy generated more electricity in the U.S. than coal for the first time last year, according to analysis from clean-energy think tank Ember. The two renewable energy sources accounted for 17% of the country’s power mix while coal fell to a low of 15%, it said.
Solar was the fastest-growing energy source, according to Ember’s analysis of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, increasing 27% from the year before, while wind rose 7%.
“We’re in a new paradigm,” said Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember. “Solar did more to meet the rising demand for electricity last year than natural gas. And that’s at odds with the current narrative and expectations going forward, where so much of the discussion has switched towards building more gas plants.”
Ember used terawatt hours of electricity supply data from the EIA to reach its conclusions, including generation from distributed and small-scale solar installations such as those installed on rooftops and commercial and industrial systems.
Natural gas generation increased 3.3% in 2024, according to Ember, and remains by far the largest source of electricity in the U.S., accounting for 43% of the mix.
The analysis comes as the Trump administration is preparing for an upsurge in natural gas production and exports. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told an energy conference in Houston this week that he is pushing for new gas pipelines in places like Alaska and New England, and approving permits to ship natural gas overseas.
“Drill, baby, drill also requires build, baby, build,” he said.
Overall, the U.S. installed 50 gigawatts of new solar capacity in 2024, according to a report this week from the Solar Energy Industries Association, a nonprofit trade group, and consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. This marked a record in new power generation added to the grid in any energy technology in more than two decades.
Solar and storage account for 84% of all new electricity-generating capacity added to the grid last year, the SEIA report said.
Wind and solar have overtaken coal in 24 states, according to Ember, with Illinois the latest to join the ranks in 2024, following Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Maryland in 2023.
California and Nevada both surpassed 30% annual share of solar in their electricity mix for the first time last year (32% and 30%, respectively). California’s battery growth was key to its solar success. It installed 20% more battery capacity than it did solar capacity, which helped it transfer a significant share of its daytime solar to the evening.
Texas installed more solar and battery capacity than even California. Yet the growth of solar was uneven—28 states generated less than 5% of their electricity from solar in 2024, highlighting significant untapped potential—even before adding battery storage.
“It shows that renewables can meet that rise in electricity demand, that solar is able and wind is if it is given the chance,” Jones said. “The fall in battery costs is a gamechanger for how much solar the U.S. electricity grid could integrate in the near future.”
Looking ahead, the global offshore wind industry is poised for a rebound in 2025, with capacity additions expected to reach 19 gigawatts and sector-wide expenditure projected to hit $80 billion, according to research from Rystad Energy. This recovery follows a slowdown at the end of last year, when new installations dropped to approximately 8 GW—2 GW lower than the prior year. A record wave of lease auctions is driving the resurgence, with the world’s largest offshore wind market, mainland China, accounting for 65% of new capacity, Rystad said.