We estimate that the United States added 6.4 gigawatts of small-scale solar capacity in 2022, the most ever in a single year.
Small-scale solar—also called distributed solar or rooftop solar—refers to solar-power systems with 1 megawatt of capacity or less. Rooftop solar panels installed on homes make up the majority of small-scale solar capacity in the United States. Small-scale solar power systems are also used in the commercial and industrial sectors., June 2023
U.S. small-scale solar capacity grew from 7.3 GW in 2014, when we started publishing these estimates, to 39.5 GW in 2022. Small-scale solar makes up about one-third of the total solar capacity in the United States. Tax credits and incentives, public policy, and higher retail electricity prices have encouraged the growth of small-scale solar capacity over the past decade.California has, by far, the largest share of the country’s small-scale solar capacity, at 36%. Ample sunshine, favorable incentives, and