The United States is set to add 63 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electricity generation capacity in 2025, marking a nearly 30% increase from 2024 when 48.6 GW was installed. This will be the largest annual capacity addition since 2002. Solar and battery storage will play a leading role in this expansion, accounting for 81% of the total planned capacity additions.
Solar energy will continue to dominate the sector, with 32.5 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity expected to be added in 2025. This follows a record 30 GW added in 2024, which made up 61% of last year’s capacity additions. Texas and California will lead in solar installations, contributing 11.6 GW and 2.9 GW, respectively. Other states, including Indiana, Arizona, Michigan, Florida, and New York, will each add over 1 GW of solar capacity, totaling 7.8 GW.
Battery storage is also expected to see record growth in 2025, with 18.2 GW of utility-scale battery storage planned. This follows a record 10.3 GW added in 2024. Battery storage plays a crucial role in balancing supply and demand by storing excess energy from renewable sources and releasing it when needed, improving grid stability. Since battery storage does not generate electricity but stores power from other sources, it serves as a secondary energy source rather than a primary one.
Wind energy capacity will increase by 7.7 GW in 2025, a rise from 5.1 GW in 2024, which was the smallest annual wind capacity addition since 2014. Texas, Wyoming, and Massachusetts will account for nearly half of the wind energy additions. Two major offshore wind farms are expected to begin operations in 2025: Vineyard Wind 1 in Massachusetts with 800 megawatts (MW) of capacity and Revolution Wind in Rhode Island with 715 MW.
Natural gas will also see new capacity additions, with 4.4 GW planned for 2025. Around 50% of this will come from simple-cycle combustion turbines, while 36% will be from combined-cycle power plants. Utah, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Tennessee will account for more than 70% of these new natural gas installations. The two largest natural gas plants expected to come online in 2025 are the 840-MW Intermountain Power Project in Utah and the 678.7-MW Magnolia Power plant in Louisiana. The new capacity at the Intermountain Power Project will replace 1,800 MW of coal-fired power, which is set to be retired in July 2025.
This expansion highlights the continued shift toward renewable energy and energy storage while maintaining a balanced energy mix. The significant growth in solar and battery storage reinforces the importance of clean energy, while wind and natural gas remain important contributors to the U.S. power grid. These new additions will help ensure a stable and efficient electricity supply for the country in the coming years.
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