ZACKS·2025-12-18 19:07Industry Overview - In 2025, U.S. renewables are projected to account for 24% of electricity generation, increasing from 22% in 2024, and reaching 25% in 2026, primarily driven by solar capacity growth [1] - Renewables are expected to surpass coal as the largest source of global electricity by 2026, with a projected share of 36% compared to coal's 32% [5] - The global power mix is gradually shifting towards renewables, supported by declining coal-fired generation and increased investments in clean energy technologies [6] Capacity Growth - Annual additions of solar, wind, and storage capacity in the U.S. between 2026 and 2030 are expected to range from 30 GW to 66 GW [3] - By October 2025, the U.S. had 37.4 GW of operating battery storage capacity, reflecting a 32% year-to-date increase, with an additional 19 GW under construction through 2026 [3] Investment Opportunities - Canadian Solar (CSIQ) is a leading manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, with a forecast of total module shipments of 25-30 GW for 2026, indicating a year-over-year revenue increase of 34.8% and earnings increase of 77.7% [9][10] - FuelCell Energy (FCEL) focuses on clean, reliable distributed power, with a projected revenue increase of 21.5% and earnings increase of 58.9% for 2026 [11][12] - NextEra Energy (NEE) expects to add 36.5-46.5 GW of new renewables from 2024 to 2027, with a projected revenue increase of 17.2% and earnings increase of 7.6% for 2026 [13][14] Market Dynamics - The expansion of data centers driven by cloud computing and AI is increasing demand for reliable electricity, which renewables are well-positioned to meet [7] - Long-term power purchase agreements and corporate investments are providing stable revenue streams and financing certainty, fostering a favorable environment for growth in the renewable energy sector [8]