For the first time, Texas' main power system looks set to generate more power from solar farms than coal plants during a calendar year in 2025, marking a key new energy transition milestone for the largest power network in the U.S.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) generated 2.64 million megawatt hours (MWh) of power from solar assets, compared with 2.44 million MWh of power from coal plants for the January-to-November period, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Even as solar generation declines in the final weeks of 2025 due to reduced daylight, coal output is unlikely to overtake solar production for the full year as solar farms look set to generate at least 150,000 MWh in December.
Higher solar output versus coal output in Texas will mark a rare highlight for U.S. climate trackers in 2025. Nationally, coal generation has registered a steep climb this year and remains around three times greater than total U.S. solar output.
However, the steep growth of solar power in Texas - the main fossil fuel hub in the U.S. - will likely act as a blueprint for other states where utilities are attempting to boost output from all available sources to keep up with rising power demand.
