US solar sets new records as renewables nearly match natural gas – EIA

Solar provided over 10% of total US electrical generation in April, wind and solar produced almost one-quarter, and the mix of all renewable energy generated nearly a third, according to data just released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Solar set new records in April and the first third of 2025

EIA’s latest monthly “Electric Power Monthly” report (with data through April 30, 2025), which was reviewed by the SUN DAY Campaign, confirms that solar continues to be the fastest-growing source of US electricity.

In April alone, electrical generation by utility-scale solar (>1 MW) increased by 39.3% while “estimated” small-scale (e.g., rooftop) solar PV increased by 11.8%. Combined, they grew by 31.3% and provided 10.7% of US electrical output.

Utility-scale solar thermal and PV expanded by 42.4% while that from small-scale systems rose by 11.4% during the first third of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The combination of utility-scale and small-scale solar increased by 32.9% and was almost 7.7% of total US electrical generation for January-April, up from 6.1% a year earlier.

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As a result, solar-generated electricity easily surpassed hydropower output, at 6.0%. In fact, solar is now producing more electricity than hydropower, biomass, and geothermal combined.

Wind is still the renewable energy leader

Wind turbines produced 12.6% of US electricity in the first four months of 2025. Their output was 5.9% greater than the year before.

In April alone, wind provided 13.9% of US electricity supply, essentially equal to the share provided by coal.

Wind and solar now outproduce coal and nuclear

During the first third of 2025, electrical generation by wind plus utility-scale and small-scale solar provided 20.3% of the US total, up from 18.5% during the first four months of 2024. In just the month of April, solar plus wind accounted for 24.6% of US electrical output.

During the first four months of this year, the combination of wind and solar provided 20.2% more electricity than did coal, and 13.8% more than US nuclear power plants. In April alone, the disparity increased significantly when solar + wind outproduced coal and nuclear power by 77.1% and 40.2%, respectively.

Renewables are closing in on natural gas

The mix of all renewables (wind and solar plus hydropower, biomass, and geothermal) produced 10.3% more electricity in January-April than they did a year ago (9.7% more in April alone) and provided 27.7% of total US electricity production compared to 26.3% 12 months earlier.

Electrical generation by the combination of all renewables in April alone reached a new record and provided 32.8% of total US electrical generation. Moreover, renewables are now approaching the share provided by natural gas (35.1%), whose electrical output actually dropped by 4.4% during the month.  

For perspective, five years ago, in April 2020, the mix of renewables provided 24.4% of total electrical generation while natural gas accounted for 38.8%.

Consequently, the mix of renewables has further strengthened its position as the second largest source of electrical generation, behind only natural gas, with the gap closing rapidly.

Ken Bossong, the SUN DAY Campaign’s executive director, noted:

Solar is now the fastest-growing major source of electricity and is generating more than hydropower, biomass, and geothermal combined, while wind plus solar provides more electricity than either coal or nuclear power, and the mix of all renewables is nearly matching the output of natural gas.

Yet, the Trump administration and the Republican Congress are seeking to pull the rug out from underneath renewables in favor of dirtier and more expensive fossil fuel and nuclear technologies. What are they thinking?

Read more: $15.5B in EV, renewable projects vanish as Senate eyes rollbacks

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