Solar power in the US hit record highs in May and across the first five months of 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s latest Electric Power Monthly report.
Utility-scale solar generation in May rose 33.3% year-on-year, while small-scale solar grew by 8.9%. Combined, they delivered 26.4% more electricity and accounted for over 11% of the nation’s power—surpassing wind for the first time.
Together, utility and small-scale solar produced 38,965GWh in May, topping wind’s 36,907GWh. For the January–May period, solar output rose by 31.1%, contributing 8.4% of total US generation, up from 6.6% in 2024.
The solar surge now places it ahead of hydropower (6.1%), and for the first time, solar is producing more electricity than the combined total from hydropower, biomass and geothermal.
Wind power also grew, producing 12.2% of US electricity from January to May 2025, up 3.9% year-on-year.
Combined, wind and solar generated 20.5% of all electricity during that time, outpacing both coal and nuclear. In May alone, they supplied nearly 21.5% of total US output.
For the January–May period, solar and wind together produced 26.2% more electricity than coal and 15.4% more than nuclear. In May, those figures rose to 55.7% and 22.1% respectively.
Overall, renewables—including wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and geothermal—generated 28.1% of the nation’s electricity from January to May, a 7.6% year-on-year increase. In May alone, renewables accounted for nearly 30% of US power.
SUN DAY Campaign executive director Ken Bossong said: “Solar and wind continue to grow, set new records, and out-produce both coal and nuclear power. The ongoing Republican assault against renewables is not only misguided and illogical but also a good example of shooting oneself in the foot.”
US Solar and wind set new records, outpacing coal and nuclear appeared first on Energy Live News.