The US installed 11.8 GW DC of solar capacity in Q1 2024, marking the industry’s second-best quarter after the final quarter of 2023, bringing the country’s total capacity to 200 GW. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie also revealed that the US added a record 11 GW of new solar module manufacturing capacity in the first quarter of the year, and now has the capacity to produce more than 26 GW of solar modules a year. The utility-scale market installed nearly 10 GW, led by Florida and Texas, while the residential segment saw its lowest quarter in two years at 1.3 GW, down 25% year-over-year. However, high interest rates and the transition to net billing in California led to flat commercial and community solar markets.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
