In 2024, solar power accounted for approximately two-thirds of all the new electricity generation added to the U.S. power grid, with 50 million kilowatts installed. That was a 23% spike from 2023, solidifying that the solar industry is increasingly important in the U.S. power production conversation.
Although the outlook for 2025 is uncertain due to the current economic and political landscape, solar power has unquestionably emerged as a mainstream solution for meeting the energy needs of residential and commercial buildings. It also helps to reduce our carbon footprint and positively impact the environment.
Solar panels for commercial buildings have become increasingly desirable. They offer a compelling opportunity for businesses to reduce energy costs, increase property value and align with sustainability goals. Now more companies choose to invest in commercial solar panel systems. Harnessing energy from the sun’s rays turns a green initiative into a smart business investment with long-term returns.
Here are some solar industry trends that will shape the use of solar energy over the next decade and beyond.
Increased Net Metering
Net metering is the system by which businesses that produce excess electricity via commercial solar panels may sell it back to the local utility at market rates. This allows solar power users to offset the cost of drawing from the grid at night and during inclement weather, and in some cases, even eliminates those costs.
Because net metering must be mandated by legislation, each state has its own rules. However, there are big movements statewide that are positively impacting the solar industry
Solar-friendly Maryland, which aims to produce half its energy through renewables by 2030, has full net metering. Customers who sell to the grid are credited at the same rate they pay to draw electricity from it.
Illinois has taken a leadership position in solar in the Midwest and has the same solar-friendly net metering rules.
In the South, Georgia and South Carolina have become leaders in solar power adoption, particularly in the commercial sector. As of 2025, these states have taken advantage of favorable regulations, including tax credits, to accelerate solar adoption.
Georgia has become a hotspot for large-scale solar projects, with the state seeing a substantial increase in utility-scale solar farms and commercial installations. More significant support for net metering could further aid solar adoption.
South Carolina decision-makers passed legislation this May that raised the net metering cap for commercial customers to 5 megawatts per solar project. This increase now allows large power users—such as auto manufacturers, data centers, or cold storage warehouses—to offset a more significant amount of their energy loads with on-site renewable solar. Such a change is a significant incentive for businesses looking to incorporate solar panels and their resulting savings into their business model. Even before this new development in the state’s solar policies, solar power use was projected to quadruple in the Palmetto State by 2035.
Increased Demand from Data Centers
The demand for electricity across the country is booming, mainly due to data centers for cloud storage and artificial intelligence (AI), which are projected to consume 9% of U.S. energy production by the end of the decade. Without clean, sustainable, and cost-effective renewable energy sources, the nation’s energy production would be severely strained. However, solar industry trends indicate panels are expected to play a significant role in meeting the increased demand.
The Call for Efficient Storage
The demand for efficient electricity storage is slowly transforming the solar industry. Solar installations paired with storage increased by 28% last year, thanks to breakthroughs in batteries with higher capacities, faster charging and lower costs. These advancements have developed in tandem with the electric vehicle industry, which has scaled significantly over the past five years. Storage will play a critical role moving forward, allowing the power produced by residential and commercial solar panels to be saved and deployed when the sun isn’t shining.
The Advancement of Bifacial Solar Panels
The solar industry continually innovates to develop more efficient energy-capturing panels. Bifacial solar panels can capture sunlight on both sides, potentially doubling the system’s energy output. These products are beneficial in sandy or other reflective environments and may be the future of solar panels for commercial buildings.
AI and Solar
As AI infiltrates every aspect of life, it is already showing promise in revolutionizing the solar industry, most notably through real-time energy monitoring and usage optimization. More innovations involving AI, which seem like a distant reality from a science fiction novel, are actually closer than we might think.
With advancements in technology, supportive policies, and a growing focus on renewable energy, the solar industry in these states is set to flourish in 2025 and beyond. Innovations in capturing, storing, and delivering solar energy are poised to transform the industry, creating more favorable conditions for businesses nationwide to adopt them.
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