The first quarter of 2024 saw a significant boost in solar panel manufacturing capacity in the US, according to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.
During this period, 11GW of new solar module manufacturing capacity was added, marking the largest growth in US solar manufacturing history. This addition brings the total annual manufacturing capacity to over 26GW.
In the same quarter, 11.8GW of new solar capacity was installed nationwide, pushing the national total to 200GW. The utility-scale solar market experienced substantial growth, particularly in Florida and Texas, with New Mexico and Ohio also showing notable increases.
However, the residential solar segment faced difficulties, especially in California, due to recent policy changes.
Despite these challenges, the report projects that US solar capacity will double over the next five years, reaching 438GW by 2029.
Abigail Ross Hopper, SEIA president and CEO, comments: “This quarter proves that new federal investments in clean energy are revitalising American manufacturing and strengthening our nation’s energy economy.”
