Solar narrowly overtakes coal for first full month on record in May 2026, both under 13% of U.S. electricity
Solar supplied 12.8% of U.S. electricity in May 2026 while coal fell to 12.2%, according to Ember data released Wednesday. Solar generation reached a record 45.5 TWh.
thehindu.comS. 2% share for the first full month on record, according to data released Wednesday by the energy think tank Ember. 5 terawatt-hours in May, a 17% increase from May 2025 and above the previous monthly record set in July 2025.
2% coal share marked the fourth-lowest monthly level ever recorded. S. electricity in May, behind natural gas and nuclear power. 3 TWh in April; the May figure remained 11% below year-earlier levels.
U.S. electricity system. He added that markets from Texas to California are turning to solar to meet rising power demand.
U.S. capacity installed in the first quarter of 2026. S.
Solar Market Insight 2026 Q2 Report.
