Utility-scale solar installations have grown faster than any other generating technology in last six years
Utility-scale solar installations, including photovoltaic (PV) and thermal technologies, grew at an average rate of 72 percent per year between 2010 and 2016, faster than any other generating technologies,
according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Utility-scale solar generation now accounts for approximately two percent of all utility-scale electric generation. More than half of currently operating utility-scale solar capacity began operation in the
past two years.
As of December 2016, the United States had more than 21.5 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar
generating capacity in operation. More than 7.6 GW of that capacity came online in 2016.
The rapid growth in solar capacity has caused an increase in generation. However, solar’s share of utility-scale electricity generation is 0.9 percent, which is around half of its share of capacity.
Electric generating capacity from small-scale solar systems, such as rooftop and other customer-sited PV systems, has also grown. According to EIA estimates, the United States added 3.4 GW of small-scale solar generating capacity in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. At the end of 2016, the United States had 13.1 GW of installed small-scale solar capacity.
Monthly generation from small-scale solar capacity is estimated to be about two-thirds of the amount generated by utility-scale solar generators, about 1.6 million megawatthours (MWh) on average.
