U.S. To Add Record Electric Generation Capacity

The amount of new electric generating capacity forecast to be added to utility grids across the U.S. in 2026 is expected to set another record, a new report indicates.

Power plant operators plan to add 86 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale generation in the coming year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently reported in its Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory report. The standing record was set in 2025, when 53 GW of new capacity was added, the most in a single year since 2002.

Regional grid operators around the country need more available energy as demand continues to rapidly increase due to the development of data centers, increased industrial and residential electrification, and the adoption of electric vehicles.

The new EIA report forecasts that solar will continue to dominate in the amount of power being added to the grid, with projects accounting for 43.4 GW of the total. That would represent a 60% increase from 2025, when 27.2 GW of solar was added. Another 30.8 GW of utility-scale solar was added in 2024. Texas is the dominant state adding solar projects.

Much of that solar capacity will be paired with battery storage, which takes in excess energy generated from a solar project during the daylight hours, and then releases it during peak hours when power is not being generated. About 24 GW of battery storage is expected to be added in 2026. “U.S. battery storage has grown exponentially over the last five years with more than 40 GW added to the grid during this period,” the report states. Battery storage technology is rapidly improving, and costs are being reduced as its use scales up.

With policy changes enacted in recent years at the federal level that end incentives for solar and wind development and favor fossil fuel-powered generation that is available 24/7, it remains to be seen if solar will continue to expand at the same pace. The report noted that wind energy additions have slowed but could still rise in 2026 with 11.8 GW planned to be added.

Natural gas remains a significant contributor to the overall energy picture, with 6.3 GW of new capacity planned, with most of it in Texas and Oklahoma. Its use is expected to grow in coming years as data center operators seeking firm, constantly available power are increasingly turning to natural gas.

Overall, solar is expected to account for 51% of new power additions, followed by battery storage at 28%, wind at 14%, and natural gas, 7%.