Project developers and utility operators are preparing for a historic expansion of the US electric grid, with 86 GW of new utility-scale generating capacity slated to come online in 2026.
According to the February 2026 “Electric Power Monthly” report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the surge represents the largest single-year capacity addition in over two decades, nearly doubling the 53 GW installed in 2025.
The growth is overwhelmingly driven by “the big two” of the energy transition: solar and battery storage. Combined, these two technologies account for 79% of all planned additions for the year.
Solar power continues its run as the fastest-growing source of new generation. Developers plan to add 43.4 GW of utility-scale solar in 2026, a 60% increase over the record-setting 27.2 GW added in 2025. If the projects materialize as scheduled, 2026 will mark the third consecutive year of record solar installations.
Geographically, Texas remains the epicenter of the solar boom, hosting approximately 40% (17.4 GW) of the nation’s planned solar construction. Arizona and California follow, each accounting for roughly 6% of the national total.
Notable projects driving this trend include the Tehuacana Creek 1 Solar facility in Navarro County, Texas, which is expected to bring 837 MW of photovoltaic capacity online this year.
Battery energy storage has now entered center stage as as grid asset. The EIA expects 24.3 GW of new battery storage to come online in 2026, surpassing the 15 GW record set in 2025. This rapid scaling follows a five-year trend of exponential growth, with the U.S. now boasting over 40 GW of installed storage capacity.
Approximately 48% of current storage on the grid is co-located with solar arrays, a strategy designed to mitigate curtailment and shift peak production to meet evening demand. Major storage assets scheduled for 2026 commercial operation include the Lunis Creek BESS (621 MW) and the Clear Fork Creek Solar & BESS (600 MW), both in Texas.
