In May 2026, solar power in the United States surpassed coal generation in electricity production share for the first time on record. According to analysts at Ember, solar installations provided 12.8% of the country's total electricity, while coal accounted for 12.2%.
This milestone was driven by a record solar output of 45.5 TWh for the month, representing a 17% increase compared to May 2025. In contrast, coal generation remained depressed: after hitting an all-time low in April, it saw only a marginal uptick in May.
Solar energy now ranks as the third-largest source of electricity in the U.S., trailing only natural gas and nuclear power. Over the last five years, its share of the energy mix has more than doubled, and it continues to lead in new capacity additions.
Ember analyst Nicolas Fulghum noted that this month illustrates the significant progress solar energy has made, evolving from a niche source into the third-largest and fastest-growing component of the American power grid. He expects such occurrences to become more frequent, with solar projected to outstrip coal on an annual basis within a few years.
Interestingly, this milestone was reached despite federal policies aimed at supporting the coal industry. How will this development influence the sector's long-term trends?
Ember's data is based on official monthly statistics and preliminary hourly figures. Similar conclusions are supported by reports from the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie.
