Solar energy met 61% of rising US electricity demand in 2025, according to Ember, a global energy think tank. A record 83 TWh increase in solar output helped offset a 135 TWh jump in national power use, the fourth-largest rise in a decade.

The Texas, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions saw the strongest growth in both solar generation and electricity demand. Solar supplied 81% of new power needs in Texas and the Midwest. Increased battery storage allowed solar to contribute during evening hours, not just peak daylight.

Solar’s flexibility is growing due to expanded storage, especially in California, where utility-scale solar and battery capacity has climbed 58% over six years. Analysts say solar is increasingly vital to meet surging US energy needs efficiently and cleanly.

This shift signals that solar and storage are becoming backbone resources for grid reliability and decarbonization, especially as demand climbs with EVs and data centers.