6 Records Solar & Storage Have Crushed in the First Half of 2026

Solar power and battery storage are setting records across the country this year, according to new industry data. In the first three months of 2026, solar and storage together made up 91% of all new electricity generation capacity added nationwide, the highest share ever recorded. In May, solar generated more electricity than coal for the first time in U.S. history, and it now supplies almost 13% of the country's electricity.

The growth shows up most dramatically in California and Texas. On one evening in July, California's batteries discharged nearly 13 gigawatts of power, covering 36% of the state's demand during the evening hours when the grid is usually under the most strain. The next day, California's solar output hit a new high, covering 72% of afternoon demand. Texas has also broken records recently, with batteries covering a fifth of evening demand in March, renewables covering 79% of demand on another day, and solar and other renewables setting new generation highs through May. Grid operators serving other regions, including the Midwest, New England, and the mid-Atlantic, have also set new solar records in the past few months.

None of this changes what any individual household needs to do. But it points to a broader shift: solar and battery storage are becoming a bigger, cheaper, and more reliable part of the electricity supply, even during hot weather when demand peaks. For homeowners weighing their own solar or battery investment, it's a sign the technology is scaling up fast, not staying niche.