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Follow The Build
Projections that the United States will exceed 737 GW of installed solar capacity by 2035 sound abstract until you slow them down and put them into everyday terms. Today, the country operates roughly 231 GW of installed solar. That means the U.S. is expected to more than triple its solar footprint over the next decade, adding over 500 GW of new capacity.
According to forecasts from GlobalData, solar alone will account for the largest share of renewable expansion as total renewable capacity grows from about 414 GW in 2024 to roughly 1.06 TW by 2035.
Adding more than 500 GW of solar capacity is not just a chart going up and to the right (hockey stick). Put differently, that growth represents hundreds of billions of dollars in solar development. It also reflects a roughly 218 percent increase in installed solar capacity from 2024 levels.
Campaign speeches or short-term policy swings do not drive these projections. They are produced by analysts who track utility procurement plans and state-level mandates. Think tanks and data firms focus on what utilities have already committed to buy and what large energy users are already contracting for.
Texas is repeatedly highlighted in GlobalData’s analysis alongside California and the Midwest as a core market for solar expansion. The state combines strong solar resources, large contiguous land parcels, and a grid that continues to add load from manufacturing, data centers, and population growth.
As U.S. solar growth accelerates, Texas acts as a pressure release valve for energy demand. When new capacity needs to come online quickly and at scale, Texas is where it can happen first. This applies to utility-scale projects as well as C&I. From our vantage point, Texas is less a special case and more a preview of how solar development unfolds when economics, load growth, and infrastructure readiness align.
One reason these projections carry weight is that they are grounded in financial behavior rather than solar idealism. Corporations continue signing long-term solar contracts because price stability matters more than short-term market swings. Utilities continue to procure solar because it remains one of the lowest-cost sources of new generation.
Together, these forces explain why renewable energy investments are expected to exceed $400 billion between 2025 and 2030 alone. The scale can feel hard to grasp, but the logic is straightforward. If solar made sense at 231 GW, it makes more sense at 737 GW when supply chains mature and operational risk declines.
At Sunshine Renewable Solutions, we work where those forecasts turn into steel in the ground.
Reach out today and start your switch to solar.
Formosa Plastics is a major producer of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride resins, which are widely used in various industries worldwide. Recognizing its role in environmental stewardship, Formosa Plastics sought to collaborate with a reputable sustainability consultant who can provide solutions to reduce its impact on the environment.
Sunshine Renewable Solutions is a leading sustainability consulting firm that specializes in renewable energy and environmental sustainability. The company has a team of experts who help clients identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and implement sustainable practices through solar power.
