U.S. solar installations fell 16% in 2022 compared to the year prior, a drop caused largely by trade disputes and enforcement of new human rights protections that throttled supply chains.
Even so, the U.S. added 20.2 GW of new capacity, according to a report released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie. Utility-scale installations fell the most, declining 31% year-over-year to 11.8 GW. That was the sector’s lowest total since before the pandemic. Commercial and community solar installations also fell by 6% and 16%, respectively.
