In Pictures: U.S. Small-Scale Solar Generation Quadruples Over the Past Decade, Led by California and Rooftop Growth

Rooftop solar arrays on commercial buildings have helped drive a fivefold increase in small-scale U.S. solar generation since 2015.

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Residential rooftop installations like these have become a major contributor to the nation's small-scale solar output.

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Small-scale solar systems under 1 MW generated nearly 93,000 GWh nationwide in 2025.

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California alone accounted for 37% of U.S. small-scale solar generation, far outpacing other states.

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Rooftop solar growth has accelerated as installation costs have fallen over the past decade.

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Small-scale solar generation jumped 25% year-over-year in 2022, according to federal data.

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Arizona, Texas, and Florida followed California as the leading states for small-scale solar generation.

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Energy-efficient buildings equipped with solar panels are increasingly common across the U.S. landscape.

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The decade-long surge in rooftop solar reflects broader adoption of distributed energy generation nationwide.

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