Contents
- Solar electricity generation statistics: global solar output and growth
- Solar electricity generation statistics: U.S. annual generation timeline
- Solar electricity generation statistics: small-scale solar generation
- Solar electricity generation statistics: state solar electricity consumption estimates
- Solar electricity generation statistics: U.S. utility-scale generation
- Solar electricity generation statistics: monthly U.S. solar generation
- Sources
Solar electricity generation statistics: global solar output and growth
Global solar electricity generation reached 2,131 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024. Ember reports that solar generation increased by a record 474 TWh compared with 2023, a rise of 29%. TWh measures electricity generated over time. It is distinct from gigawatts (GW), a measure of generating capacity. Source: Ember, Global Electricity Review 2025: 2024 in Review
Solar supplied 6.9% of global electricity generation in 2024, according to Ember. The same review reports that solar met 40% of the increase in global electricity demand that year. These percentages use different denominators: 6.9% is solar’s share of all electricity generated, while 40% describes its contribution to the change in demand. Source: Ember, Global Electricity Review 2025: 2024 in Review
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that solar photovoltaic (PV) accounted for 7% of global electricity generation in 2024. The IEA estimates global solar PV generation increased by about 480 TWh from 2023, the largest increase of any source. Ember’s 6.9% share and 474 TWh increase are reported separately from the IEA’s rounded 7% and approximate 480 TWh estimates. Source: IEA, Global Energy Review 2025: Electricity
Capacity additions provide another measure of activity, but they do not describe generated electricity. Worldwide solar PV additions totaled about 550 GW in 2024, according to the IEA, which says additions rose by almost 30% year over year. The GW figure refers to capacity added; TWh refers to electricity produced. Source: IEA, Global Energy Review 2025: Electricity
Together, these reported measures describe global generation, its share of electricity, its role in demand growth, and new capacity during 2024. Keeping the measures distinct makes comparisons clearer: a generation total, a percentage of total electricity, a contribution to demand growth, and added capacity answer different questions.
Solar electricity generation statistics: U.S. annual generation timeline
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports annual solar net generation for the 50 states and the District of Columbia in million kilowatthours. The series below gives each annual total from 2015 through 2024. The figures combine small-scale and utility-scale solar generation. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
| Year | U.S. solar net generation (million kilowatthours) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 39,032 |
| 2016 | 54,866 |
| 2017 | 77,277 |
| 2018 | 93,365 |
| 2019 | 106,894 |
| 2020 | 130,721 |
| 2021 | 164,422 |
| 2022 | 205,074 |
| 2023 | 238,937 |
| 2024 | 303,752 |
The reported total increases in every year shown, from 39,032 million kilowatthours in 2015 to 303,752 million kilowatthours in 2024. These are annual net-generation figures, not measures of capacity. The geographic coverage is the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
Units matter when reading the timeline: 303,752 is the 2024 total in million kilowatthours. It is not a number of kilowatts or gigawatts. The annual series records electricity generated during each year, while the global capacity-addition figure above records capacity installed during a year. The two measures can sit alongside each other as context, but they are not interchangeable.
Solar electricity generation statistics: small-scale solar generation
EIA defines small-scale solar as grid-connected PV generation at facilities with combined generator nameplate capacity below 1 megawatt. The selected years below show reported U.S. totals in million kilowatthours. EIA identifies small-scale data as estimates for all years. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
| Year | Small-scale solar generation (million kilowatthours) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 104 |
| 2010 | 2,280 |
| 2022 | 61,282 |
| 2023 | 73,406 |
| 2024 | 83,918 |
The reported small-scale total was 104 million kilowatthours in 2000 and 2,280 million kilowatthours in 2010. More recent selected entries are 61,282 in 2022, 73,406 in 2023, and 83,918 in 2024. These are estimates of generation, rather than counts of solar installations or measures of installed capacity. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
For 2024, EIA reports 57,547 million kilowatthours of residential small-scale generation, 21,652 million kilowatthours of commercial generation, and 4,719 million kilowatthours of industrial generation. These are sector entries within the small-scale category. EIA notes that totals may differ from components because of independent rounding, so the published values are retained as reported. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
The classification depends on grid connection and generator nameplate capacity. It covers PV generation at qualifying facilities. The figures count electricity generated; they do not count installations, households with panels, or capacity. Those distinctions also matter when comparing the small-scale series with utility-scale generation below.
Solar electricity generation statistics: state solar electricity consumption estimates
EIA’s State Energy Data System (SEDS) Table F40 reports state solar energy consumption estimates by sector, including values in million kilowatthours. These are consumption estimates, not state generation totals. The table pairs each selected state’s total estimate with its electric-power-sector estimate for 2024. Source: EIA, State Energy Data System 2024: Updates by Energy Source, Table F40
| State | Total solar energy consumption estimate (million kilowatthours) | Electric-power-sector estimate (million kilowatthours) |
|---|---|---|
| California | 80,152 | 47,946 |
| Arizona | 16,266 | 10,771 |
| Florida | 23,261 | 18,639 |
| Nevada | 14,497 | 12,397 |
| North Carolina | 12,752 | 11,744 |
California’s 2024 total solar energy consumption estimate was 80,152 million kilowatthours, including an electric-power-sector estimate of 47,946 million kilowatthours. Arizona’s corresponding figures were 16,266 total and 10,771 for the electric-power sector. The total covers sectors in the SEDS reporting framework; electric power is one of those sectors. Source: EIA, State Energy Data System 2024: Updates by Energy Source, Table F40
Florida’s total estimate was 23,261 million kilowatthours, with 18,639 in the electric-power sector. Nevada’s total was 14,497, including 12,397 for that sector. North Carolina’s figures were 12,752 total and 11,744 in the electric-power sector. Both columns come from the same table, but their scopes differ: one covers the total across reported sectors, while the other identifies the electric-power sector. Source: EIA, State Energy Data System 2024: Updates by Energy Source, Table F40
Hawaii’s 2024 total solar energy consumption estimate was 2,278 million kilowatthours. Its residential-sector estimate was 1,056 million kilowatthours. These values offer a residential example alongside the electric-power-sector entries in the table. Both remain consumption estimates under SEDS Table F40 and should not be read as state solar generation. Source: EIA, State Energy Data System 2024: Updates by Energy Source, Table F40
Solar electricity generation statistics: U.S. utility-scale generation
EIA defines utility-scale solar as PV and solar thermal net generation at facilities with capacity of 1 megawatt or more. In 2024, U.S. utility-scale solar generation totaled 219,834 million kilowatthours. EIA identifies utility-scale data for the current 2 years as estimates. The sector entries and reported total appear below in the source’s unit. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
| 2024 utility-scale category | Generation (million kilowatthours) |
|---|---|
| Electric power sector | 218,722 |
| Commercial sector | 566 |
| Industrial sector | 546 |
| Total | 219,834 |
The electric-power-sector entry was 218,722 million kilowatthours. Commercial and industrial utility-scale generation were 566 and 546 million kilowatthours, respectively. The published total is 219,834 million kilowatthours. EIA notes that totals may differ from components because of independent rounding. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
For the electric-power sector, utility-scale solar generation was 9,537 million kilowatthours in January 2024 and 24,359 million kilowatthours in July 2024. These are monthly values for utility-scale facilities in one sector. Total solar generation in either month has broader coverage because it also includes small-scale generation. The 2 observations do not provide a complete monthly series. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
Solar electricity generation statistics: monthly U.S. solar generation
EIA’s monthly total combines small-scale and utility-scale solar net generation across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The table lists the reported 2024 observations in million kilowatthours. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
| Month in 2024 | Total U.S. solar net generation (million kilowatthours) |
|---|---|
| January | 14,309 |
| February | 17,882 |
| March | 23,132 |
| April | 27,073 |
| May | 30,910 |
| June | 33,012 |
| July | 33,262 |
| August | 32,741 |
| September | 28,049 |
| October | 26,564 |
| November | 19,234 |
In the reported sequence, total generation rises each month from January through July, reaching 33,262 million kilowatthours in July. It then declines through the remaining reported months, ending at 19,234 million kilowatthours in November. This describes the observations; the table does not explain the conditions behind the pattern. December is not among the reported monthly values here. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6
The published annual 2024 total is 303,752 million kilowatthours, while the monthly table contains the reported observations shown above. The annual value is the EIA’s published total, not a sum calculated from the monthly entries here. Both series use the same geographic coverage and net-generation measure. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, October 2026, Table 10.6