Distributed generation is measured differently across countries and datasets. The figures below focus on small-scale photovoltaic generation in the United States, renewable distributed generation in Brazil, and global renewable expansion and grid-connection data, with each period and boundary stated explicitly.
Key Distributed Generation Statistics
The most useful headline figures span output, capacity, participation, technology mix, forecasts, and grid readiness:
- In 2024, U.S. residential-sector small-scale solar generation was 57,547 thousand MWh.
- In 2014, U.S. residential-sector small-scale solar generation was 4,947 thousand MWh.
- In July 2024, U.S. residential small-scale solar generation was 5,991 thousand MWh.
- In January 2024, U.S. residential small-scale solar generation was 3,240 thousand MWh.
- EIA’s U.S. distributed small-scale PV estimate covers systems under 1 MW whose capacity and generation are not otherwise collected in utility-scale forms.
- EIA began collecting U.S. non-net-metering distributed data through the annual EIA-861 survey in 2010.
- EIA added EIA-861S respondents to distributed-data imputations beginning in 2020.
- By March 31, 2023, Brazil had more than 1.8 million renewable distributed-generation systems.
- By March 31, 2023, Brazil had about 19 GW of renewable distributed-generation capacity.
- In March 2023, solar PV represented 99% of Brazil’s distributed-generation capacity.
- In March 2023, São Paulo had 2.62 GW of distributed solar capacity.
- In March 2023, Minas Gerais had 2.60 GW of distributed solar capacity.
- Globally, annual renewable-capacity additions are forecast to rise from 666 GW in 2024 to almost 935 GW in 2030.
- Through 2030, solar PV and wind are forecast to account for 95% of renewable-capacity additions globally.
- From 2024 through 2030, global renewable capacity is expected to increase by more than 5,520 GW.
- Through 2030, utility-scale and distributed solar PV together are expected to account for almost 80% of worldwide renewable-electricity expansion.
- In 2023, U.S. small-scale PV generation was estimated at 73.62 billion kWh.
- Between 2023 and July 2024, advanced-stage global wind, solar PV, and hydropower projects awaiting grid connection rose from around 1,500 GW to 1,650 GW.
Contents
- U.S. distributed generation output trends
- Residential monthly distributed generation data
- U.S. distributed solar definitions and coverage
- Brazil distributed generation adoption and regional concentration
- Global distributed solar and renewable-capacity forecasts
- U.S. electricity context and global grid queues
U.S. Distributed Generation Statistics: Small-Scale Solar Output Trends
EIA’s residential-sector series shows sustained growth in estimated small-scale solar generation from 2014 through 2024. These are EIA estimates based on EIA-861M and EIA-861 data and the agency’s technical-note methods, not a direct meter census.
| Year | Estimated residential small-scale solar generation |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4,947 thousand MWh |
| 2015 | 6,999 thousand MWh |
| 2016 | 10,595 thousand MWh |
| 2017 | 13,942 thousand MWh |
| 2018 | 17,105 thousand MWh |
| 2019 | 20,914 thousand MWh |
| 2020 | 25,179 thousand MWh |
| 2021 | 30,182 thousand MWh |
| 2022 | 39,510 thousand MWh |
| 2023 | 49,273 thousand MWh |
| 2024 | 57,547 thousand MWh |
Source: Electric Power Annual – Table 3.6. Net Generation by Energy Source: Residential Sector, 2014-2024. The annual 2024 values are final on the opened table.
The series is specifically residential-sector small-scale solar, so it should not be read as total U.S. distributed generation across commercial, industrial, community, storage, combined-heat-and-power, or other technologies.
Residential Distributed Generation Data by Month and Year
Monthly observations show the seasonal shape of U.S. residential small-scale solar generation while also indicating higher values in the same selected months from 2022 through 2024.
| Month | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2,135 thousand MWh | 2,625 thousand MWh | 3,240 thousand MWh |
| July | 4,118 thousand MWh | 5,173 thousand MWh | 5,991 thousand MWh |
| December | 2,462 thousand MWh | 3,087 thousand MWh | 3,442 thousand MWh |
Source: Electric Power Annual – Table 3.6. Net Generation by Energy Source: Residential Sector, 2014-2024. All monthly values are EIA estimates for the U.S. residential sector.
The July observations were 4,118 thousand MWh in 2022, 5,173 thousand MWh in 2023, and 5,991 thousand MWh in 2024. January observations were 2,135, 2,625, and 3,240 thousand MWh for those same years, while December observations were 2,462, 3,087, and 3,442 thousand MWh.
U.S. Distributed Solar Data Definitions and Coverage
The U.S. figures depend on a defined statistical boundary. EIA describes distributed small-scale PV as systems under 1 MW whose capacity and generation are not otherwise collected in utility-scale forms.
EIA’s non-net-metering distributed dataset covers cumulative generators under 1 MW that are not reported on Form EIA-860. The boundary is therefore a data-collection definition rather than a universal definition of every distributed technology.
The coverage history also matters when comparing years:
- EIA began collecting non-net-metering distributed data through the annual EIA-861 survey in 2010 before moving to monthly collection.
- EIA added EIA-861S respondents to distributed-data imputations beginning in 2020, which changes comparability with earlier estimates.
- For PV respondents reporting DC units, EIA uses a 0.8256 conversion factor to convert reported PV DC capacity to AC capacity for adjusted state totals.
Source: Form EIA-861M detailed data. The source describes the distributed-generator scope, technology coverage, threshold, and estimation basis.
Brazil Distributed Generation Statistics and Regional Concentration
Brazil’s distributed-generation market was already large by March 31, 2023. ANEEL-based figures reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration counted more than 1.8 million renewable distributed-generation systems and about 19 GW of capacity.
| Measure | Brazil, measurement period |
|---|---|
| Renewable distributed-generation systems | More than 1.8 million, March 31, 2023 |
| Renewable distributed-generation capacity | About 19 GW, March 31, 2023 |
| Solar PV share of distributed-generation capacity | 99%, March 2023 |
| Small hydro and wind combined | 1%, March 2023 |
Source: Solar distributed generation capacity in Brazil is growing rapidly. The 2023 figures cover installations through March 31, and the 19 GW total covers renewable distributed generation while the state figures below cover distributed solar.
Regional concentration was substantial among the states reported in the source:
- São Paulo had 2.62 GW of distributed solar capacity in March 2023.
- Minas Gerais had 2.60 GW of distributed solar capacity in March 2023.
- Rio Grande do Sul had 2.08 GW of distributed solar capacity in March 2023.
- Paraná had 1.87 GW of distributed solar capacity in March 2023.
Policy thresholds also changed over time. Brazil’s original 2012 net-metering rule allowed qualifying renewable small generators up to 1 MW; a 2015 rule raised the cap to 3 MW for small hydropower and 5 MW for other qualified renewable sources, including solar.
Global Distributed Solar Additions and Renewable Expansion Forecasts
The International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2024 main case points to a much larger global renewable buildout through 2030. These figures are forecasts or scenarios, not observed outcomes.
| Global measure | Forecast or scenario |
|---|---|
| Annual renewable-capacity additions | 666 GW in 2024; almost 935 GW in 2030 |
| Renewable-capacity increase | More than 5,520 GW during 2024-2030 |
| Renewable additions from solar PV and wind | 95% through 2030 |
| Solar PV, utility-scale and distributed combined | Almost 80% of renewable-electricity expansion through 2030 |
| Hydropower additions | 20-30 GW annually during 2024-2030 |
| Bioenergy and other renewable additions | Roughly 12 GW by 2030 |
Source: Electricity – Renewables 2024. The IEA says the 2024-2030 increase is 2.6 times deployment during 2017-2023.
India’s annual renewable-capacity additions are forecast to rise from 15 GW in 2023 to 62 GW in 2030. In the IEA main case, global renewable capacity reaches almost 9,760 GW in 2030, or 2.7 times the 2022 level; the accelerated case reaches almost 11,000 GW.
U.S. Electricity Context and Global Grid-Connection Queues
Distributed generation should be kept separate from utility-scale totals when interpreting the U.S. electricity mix. EIA reported about 4,178 billion kWh of U.S. utility-scale generation in 2023, with the figures below using the utility-scale definition unless separately noted.
| U.S. utility-scale source, 2023 | Generation | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fossil fuels | — | 60.0% |
| Natural gas | 1,802 billion kWh | 43.1% |
| Coal | 675 billion kWh | 16.2% |
| Nuclear | 775 billion kWh | 18.6% |
| Wind | 425 billion kWh | 10.2% |
| Hydropower | 240 billion kWh | 5.7% |
| Solar, utility-scale only | 165 billion kWh | 3.9% |
Source: What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?. The utility-scale figures were preliminary at the FAQ’s last update, and the separately estimated small-scale PV amount should not be added to them as though both represented the same population.
EIA estimated an additional 73.62 billion kWh from U.S. small-scale PV systems in 2023. In this definition, small-scale PV means generators under 1 MW not connected at a plant with combined capacity of at least 1 MW.
The global queue measures indicate both expansion and connection constraints. Advanced-stage wind, solar PV, and hydropower projects awaiting grid connection increased from around 1,500 GW in 2023 to 1,650 GW by July 2024, even as the total number of waiting projects decreased 3%.
The IEA also reported that renewable projects under grid-connection review or in late-stage review increased almost 8% from 2023 to 2024, while early-stage renewable-project capacity decreased nearly 15%. In 2024, solar PV represented over 60% of advanced-stage renewable queue capacity, wind represented over 35%, and hydropower represented just over 1%; advanced-stage global solar PV capacity increased almost 15% from 2023 to 2024.
Source: Electricity – Renewables 2024. These queue percentages describe renewable projects awaiting grid connection, not installed distributed-generation capacity.