From the sunny rooftops of California to the sprawling utility-scale farms of Texas, America's solar industry shattered records in 2023 with an unprecedented 32.4 gigawatts of new capacity, proving that the nation's energy future is not only bright but is being built at a remarkable pace.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the US installed 32.4 gigawatts (GW) of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, marking the largest annual addition ever recorded.
- As of Q4 2023, total US solar capacity reached 139 GW, enough to power over 25 million homes.
- Utility-scale solar accounted for 73% of new installations in 2023, adding 23.7 GW.
- The US solar industry employed 277,484 workers in 2023, a 5.6% increase from 2022.
- Solar jobs grew to 263,000 in 2022, representing 2.6% of US energy sector employment.
- Installation jobs accounted for 60% of solar employment in 2023, totaling 166,000 positions.
- Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) generated $10.5 billion in economic activity in 2023.
- Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) projected to add 100,000 solar jobs by 2030.
- 30% ITC extended through 2032 under IRA, boosting installations by 40%.
- US solar market grew 51% in 2023 to $47 billion revenue.
- Residential solar market contracted 13% in 2023 due to high interest rates.
- Utility-scale solar costs fell 5% to $0.95/Wdc in 2023.
- US module manufacturing capacity hit 20 GW in 2023.
- First Solar produced 10 GW of thin-film CdTe panels in 2023.
- Qcells announced 8.4 GW US module factory in 2023.
The U.S. solar industry set a new installation record in 2023 while growing rapidly nationwide.
Capacity and Installations
- In 2023, the US installed 32.4 gigawatts (GW) of new solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, marking the largest annual addition ever recorded.
- As of Q4 2023, total US solar capacity reached 139 GW, enough to power over 25 million homes.
- Utility-scale solar accounted for 73% of new installations in 2023, adding 23.7 GW.
- California led with 10.5 GW of new solar installations in 2023, representing 32% of national total.
- Texas installed 6.1 GW of new solar in 2023, second highest in the US.
- Florida added 4.2 GW of solar capacity in 2023, driven by utility-scale projects.
- By end of 2023, residential solar installations totaled 39 GWdc across the US.
- Commercial and industrial solar reached 14 GWdc installed by Q4 2023.
- Community solar projects added 1.2 GW in 2023, with 800 MW in development pipeline.
- In 2022, US solar installations grew 52% year-over-year to 22.7 GW.
- Nevada's solar capacity hit 5.5 GW by 2023, powering 1.2 million homes.
- Arizona added 2.8 GW of solar in 2023, with total capacity at 8.9 GW.
- New York installed 1.1 GW of solar in 2023, reaching 6.4 GW total.
- Massachusetts cumulative solar capacity exceeded 5 GW by end-2023.
- In Q1 2024, US solar added 6.5 GW, continuing strong growth.
- Utility-scale solar pipeline stands at 300 GW as of 2024.
- Distributed solar (rooftop) capacity grew to 64 GW by 2023.
- Hawaii's solar capacity reached 3.2 GWdc, with 25% of electricity from solar.
- North Carolina total solar capacity at 9.2 GW by end-2023.
- In 2023, behind-the-meter solar added 8.7 GW nationally.
- Iowa installed 1.5 GW of solar in 2023, up 300% from prior year.
- Minnesota's solar capacity surpassed 2 GW in 2023.
- Illinois added 1.3 GW solar in 2023, total 4.5 GW.
- Georgia reached 4.1 GW solar capacity by 2023.
- New Jersey installed 1.2 GW in 2023, total 4.8 GW.
- Colorado added 1.0 GW solar in 2023, cumulative 6.5 GW.
- In 2023, US solar represented 5.3% of total electricity generation.
- Solar PV capacity factor averaged 24.8% in 2023 across US plants.
- By mid-2024, US solar capacity expected to hit 150 GW.
- Q2 2024 saw 7.3 GW new solar interconnections.
Capacity and Installations Interpretation
It seems America's solar ambitions are finally hitting their sunny stride, as last year's record-breaking installations now power over 25 million homes while leaving a pipeline of 300 gigawatts—so large it could cast a shadow on the entire power industry.
Employment and Economic Impact
- The US solar industry employed 277,484 workers in 2023, a 5.6% increase from 2022.
- Solar jobs grew to 263,000 in 2022, representing 2.6% of US energy sector employment.
- Installation jobs accounted for 60% of solar employment in 2023, totaling 166,000 positions.
- Manufacturing employed 35,000 in solar in 2023, up 15% year-over-year.
- Solar contributed $41 billion to US GDP in 2023.
- Average solar installer wage was $27.50/hour in 2023, above national construction average.
- States with most solar jobs: California (105,000), Texas (27,000), Florida (16,000) in 2023.
- Solar industry investments totaled $25 billion in 2023.
- Rooftop solar supported 120,000 jobs in 2023.
- Solar O&M jobs reached 18,000 in 2023.
- Project development roles in solar numbered 15,000 in 2023.
- Solar sales and marketing employed 12,000 workers in 2023.
- Training programs graduated 25,000 solar technicians in 2023.
- Female representation in solar jobs rose to 28% in 2023.
- Minority workers comprised 45% of solar workforce in 2023.
- Solar industry paid $15 billion in wages in 2023.
- New York solar jobs totaled 12,500 in 2023.
- Arizona employed 9,200 in solar sector in 2023.
- Nevada solar jobs at 7,800 in 2023.
- Massachusetts had 8,200 solar jobs in 2023.
- Solar startups created 5,000 new jobs in 2023.
- Utility-scale solar projects generated 50,000 construction jobs in 2023.
- Community solar supported 3,500 jobs in 2023.
- Solar supply chain jobs grew 20% to 45,000 in 2023.
- In 2023, solar R&D employed 4,200 scientists and engineers.
- Solar exports supported 10,000 US jobs in 2023.
Employment and Economic Impact Interpretation
The sun is clearly a demanding new boss, as it now directly employs over a quarter of a million Americans in surprisingly well-paying and diverse jobs while powering a $41 billion chunk of the economy—all while forcing Texas and Florida to work for California.
Market Trends and Projections
- US solar market grew 51% in 2023 to $47 billion revenue.
- Residential solar market contracted 13% in 2023 due to high interest rates.
- Utility-scale solar costs fell 5% to $0.95/Wdc in 2023.
- Projected 26 GW new solar in 2024, 36% below 2023 peak.
- Solar to account for 81% of new US capacity additions in 2024.
- By 2028, US solar capacity forecasted at 286 GW.
- Residential solar forecasted to rebound 10% in 2025 post-2023 dip.
- Corporate PPAs for solar reached 15 GW in 2023.
- Module prices dropped 50% to $0.25/W in 2023.
- US solar imports from SE Asia hit 80% of total in 2023.
- Storage attached to solar grew 150% to 10 GW in 2023.
- Floating solar market projected to 2 GW by 2030.
- Bifacial modules captured 60% utility market share in 2023.
- Top 10 EPCs installed 70% of utility solar in 2023.
- Lease and PPA financing 45% of residential installs in 2023.
- California residential market share 35% nationally in 2023.
- Texas utility solar PPAs averaged $25/MWh in 2023.
- Solar capacity expected to triple to 400 GW by 2030.
- Market concentration: top 5 developers 40% share in 2023.
- Exports of US-made modules reached $2 billion in 2023.
- Agrivoltaics projects grew 200% to 500 MW in 2023.
- PERC modules phased out, TOPCon 70% new installs 2023.
- 2025 solar forecast: 35 GW additions.
Market Trends and Projections Interpretation
The solar industry has achieved a stellar 51% growth to $47 billion, but it's being pulled in two directions: soaring corporate demand and a temporarily hobbled residential sector, all while hurtling towards dominance in America's energy landscape.
Policy and Incentives
- Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) generated $10.5 billion in economic activity in 2023.
- Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) projected to add 100,000 solar jobs by 2030.
- 30% ITC extended through 2032 under IRA, boosting installations by 40%.
- Net metering policies in 41 states supported 8 GW residential solar in 2023.
- California SGIP program funded $1.2 billion for solar+storage in 2023.
- New York's NY-Sun initiative deployed 1.1 GW solar with $500 million incentives.
- Texas has no statewide incentives but local rebates drove 6 GW solar.
- Federal solar PTC for utility-scale yielded $2.3 billion credits in 2023.
- 42 states offer property tax exemptions for solar installations.
- Massachusetts SMART program incentivized 800 MW commercial solar in 2023.
- Nevada's solar carve-out in RPS led to 5.5 GW capacity.
- 18 states have RPS mandating 10-50% renewables including solar.
- IRA manufacturing credits spurred $10 billion module production investments.
- Florida sales tax exemption saved solar customers $300 million in 2023.
- Illinois Solar for All program allocated $400 million for low-income solar.
- Arizona's solar rebate program funded 500 MW residential installs.
- Federal loan guarantees supported $5 billion solar projects in 2023.
- Community solar tax equity financing enabled 1 GW deployment in 2023.
- 2023 permitting reforms in 15 states reduced solar timelines by 30%.
- IRA domestic content bonus (10%) claimed by 60% of utility projects.
Policy and Incentives Interpretation
America’s solar industry isn’t just shining; it’s conducting a full-scale economic symphony, with federal tax credits as the conductor, state policies as the orchestra, and a booming job market as the standing ovation.
Technology and Manufacturing
- US module manufacturing capacity hit 20 GW in 2023.
- First Solar produced 10 GW of thin-film CdTe panels in 2023.
- Qcells announced 8.4 GW US module factory in 2023.
- JinkoSolar opened 2 GW Georgia plant in 2023.
- US ingot/wafer capacity reached 15 GW by end-2023.
- Polysilicon production in US at 50,000 MT in 2023.
- Average US module efficiency hit 21.5% in 2023.
- 50+ GW module capacity announced under IRA by 2023.
- Thin-film solar output grew 25% to 12 GW globally, US 20% share.
- Tracker market: single-axis dominated 95% utility installs 2023.
- Inverter efficiency averaged 99.2% for string inverters in 2023.
- US cell manufacturing restarted with 5 GW capacity in 2023.
- Bifacial adoption reached 75% in new utility projects 2023.
- N-type TOPCon modules 40% of US production in 2023.
- Balance of system costs dropped 10% to $0.20/W in 2023.
- Domestic content for modules reached 25% average in 2023.
- HJT technology pilots produced 500 MW in US labs 2023.
- Perovskite tandem cells hit 30% efficiency in US R&D 2023.
- US glass production for solar doubled to 10 GW capacity 2023.
- Frames and racking localized with 80% US sourcing in 2023.
- Microinverter shipments hit 4 million units in US 2023.
- Energy storage integration in solar inverters 30% market share 2023.
- Recycling capacity for solar panels reached 1 GW/year in 2023.
- Advanced robotics reduced labor 20% in US factories 2023.
- 600W+ high-power modules deployed in 50 US projects 2023.
Technology and Manufacturing Interpretation
America’s solar supply chain is finally flexing its muscles, with factories scaling from poly to panel, while R&D delivers clever tech on the side, proving that strategic policy can rebuild an industry—and a wry smile—at a remarkable pace.
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