In 2021, solar energy accounted for 6% of U.S. electricity, and coal 20%. Five years later, the curves crossed for the first time in May: more electrons were generated from photovoltaic panels than from coal-fired power plants.
While the fact is above all symbolic, it nevertheless illustrates a real trend in the United States. Despite the openly pro-coal and hydrocarbon policy carried out by the Trump administration, which recently announced an investment of 700 million dollars in coal, nothing seems to hinder the deployment of solar energy in the country. It is the fastest-growing energy source there, even in Republican states.
Drop in panel costs
The reason is mainly economic: this boom is due to the drop in panel costs and the speed of their installation. Not negligible advantages at a time when electricity demand is soaring, with the growing demand from artificial intelligence and its data centers.
With these good figures, solar energy becomes the third source of electricity in the United States, in a system that, however, remains largely dominated by gas, says the study by the think tank Ember. Gas, like coal, is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, responsible for climate change for which the United States is the main historical contributor.
