BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has forecasted a 3-percent increase in electricity generation for the U.S. power sector in 2024, driven by surging demand for air conditioning during the hot summer months and expected increases in electricity usage later in the year, Trend reports.
According to the EIA's latest outlook, the U.S. will produce 121 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) more electricity than in 2023, with solar power leading the expansion.
In 2025, the EIA expects U.S. power generation to grow by an additional 1 percent (60 BkWh), largely due to rising demand from the industrial sector. The ongoing shift toward renewable energy is playing a significant role in this growth, with solar power emerging as the primary driver. The EIA projects that solar energy will supply 37 percent (60 BkWh) of the total increase in U.S. electricity generation in 2024.
Utility-scale solar facilities are expanding rapidly across the U.S., with solar generation expected to rise by 34 percent nationwide this year. The growth is supported by the installation of 12 GW of new solar capacity in the first half of 2024, accounting for 59 percent of all energy capacity additions during that period. This expansion is further boosted by the development of battery storage systems, which help stabilize the grid by providing backup power during times of fluctuating solar output.
Texas (ERCOT) and California (CAISO) are expected to see the largest increases in solar generation, with Texas adding 17 BkWh and California contributing 9 BkWh. These states are home to significant solar projects, which are helping to drive the overall growth in renewable energy capacity.
In addition to solar power, natural gas is projected to increase its contribution to U.S. electricity generation by 2 percent (35 BkWh) this year, while wind energy will see a 6-percent rise (27 BkWh). Nuclear power is also expected to grow slightly, contributing an additional 1 percent (11 BkWh) to the nation’s energy mix.