U.S. Power Grid Set for Record Capacity Additions in 2026, Led by Solar and Storage

U.S. Power plant developers and operators are planning to add a record 86 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electric generating capacity to the U.S. Power grid in 2026, according to a recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). This would surpass the 53 GW added in 2025, which was the largest single-year capacity installation since 2002.

Solar Power Dominates New Capacity

Solar power is projected to account for the largest share of the 2026 additions, representing 51% of the total. Developers plan to add 43.4 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity, a 60% increase over the 27.2 GW added in 2025. More than half of this new solar capacity is concentrated in four states: Texas (40%), Arizona (6%), California (6%), and Michigan (5%).

The largest solar photovoltaic project expected to come online in 2026 is the Tehuacana Creek 1 Solar and BESS project in Texas, with a capacity of 837 megawatts (MW). This project will also include 418 MW of battery energy storage capacity.

Battery Storage Capacity Surges

Battery storage is the second-largest contributor to new capacity, accounting for 28% of the planned additions. Developers intend to add 24 GW of utility-scale battery storage in 2026, building on a record 15 GW added in 2025. U.S. Battery storage capacity has experienced exponential growth over the past five years, with over 40 GW added to the grid during that period.

The majority of the planned battery storage capacity in 2026 is located in three states: Texas (53%, or 12.9 GW), California (14%, or 3.4 GW), and Arizona (13%, or 3.2 GW). Key battery storage projects include:

• Lunis Creek BESS in Jackson, Texas (621 MW)
• Clear Fork Creek Solar and BESS SLF in Wilson, Texas (600 MW)
• Bellefield 2 Solar &amp. Energy Storage Farm in Kern County, California (500 MW)
• Tehuacana Creek 1 Solar and BESS in Navarro County, Texas (418 MW)

Wind and Natural Gas Additions

While annual U.S. Wind capacity additions have slowed from record levels in 2020 and 2021, 11.8 GW of wind capacity is planned for addition in 2026, more than double the capacity added last year. New Mexico, Texas, Illinois, and Wyoming will account for nearly 60% of these additions. Two significant offshore wind projects, Vineyard Wind 1 (800 MW) in Massachusetts and Revolution Wind (715 MW) in Rhode Island, are now scheduled to come online in 2026 after facing delays. The SunZia Wind project (3,650 MW) in New Mexico, expected to be the largest onshore wind project in the U.S., is also slated to begin operations this year.

Developers also plan to add 6.3 GW of new natural gas-fired capacity in 2026, with combined-cycle generation accounting for 3.3 GW and combustion turbine units for 2.8 GW. Over 80% of this new natural gas capacity will be located in Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Tennessee, and Florida. The Orange County Advanced Power Station in Texas (1,158 MW) and the Trumbull Energy Center in Ohio (900 MW) are the largest natural gas plants expected to begin commercial operations in 2026.

Looking Ahead

The substantial planned capacity additions in 2026 signal a significant expansion of the U.S. Power grid, driven primarily by renewable energy sources and energy storage. As demand for electricity continues to rise, these investments will be crucial for maintaining grid reliability and supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future.