The largest solar farms in the US 2026: top 10 ranked by capacity
The largest US solar farms in 2026 sit in the 700 MW–1.5 GW range, dominated by Texas, California, and Nevada projects. This guide ranks the top 10 largest operating solar farms in the US by AC capacity, with developer, year of commercial operation, technology choice, and offtake structure for each. Plus a preview of the gigawatt-scale solar farm projects coming online in 2027–2028.
In 50 words: The largest US solar farms in 2026 sit in the 700 MW–1.5 GW range, dominated by Texas, California, and Nevada projects. This guide ranks the top 10 largest operating solar farms in the US by AC capacity, with developer, year of commercial operation, technology choice, and offtake structure for each. Plus a preview of the gigawatt-scale solar farm projects coming online in 2027–2028.
The largest US solar farms in 2026 are an order of magnitude bigger than the largest projects of a decade ago. What was a 250 MW "mega project" in 2014 is now small-to-mid by 2026 standards. This guide ranks the operating US solar farms by AC capacity as of Q1 2026, with the project, developer, location, and technology behind each. We also preview the gigawatt-scale solar farm pipeline reaching commercial operation in 2027–2028.
Table of contents
- Top 10 largest operating US solar farms in 2026
- Why Texas dominates the largest US solar farm rankings
- Notable runner-up solar farms in the 400–650 MW range
- The gigawatt-scale solar farm pipeline (2027–2028)
- How "largest" is defined: AC vs DC, operating vs under construction
- How largest solar farms compare globally
- Frequently asked questions
1. Top 10 largest operating US solar farms in 2026
| Rank | Solar farm | Location | AC capacity | Developer | COD year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roadrunner Solar (combined units) | Pecos County, TX | ~1,500 MW | Enel Green Power North America | 2019–2026 (phased) |
| 2 | Edwards & Sanborn Solar+Storage | Kern County, CA | 875 MW (1,300 MW + 3,287 MWh storage) | Mortenson, Terra-Gen | 2023–2024 |
| 3 | Gemini Solar+Storage | Clark County, NV | 690 MW + 380 MW BESS | Quinbrook, Arevia Power | 2024 |
| 4 | Aktina Solar | Wharton County, TX | ~631 MW | Lightsource bp | 2022 |
| 5 | Misae Solar + Storage | Brown County, TX | ~600 MW + BESS | ConnectGen | 2024 |
| 6 | Mount Signal Solar Complex (1+2+3) | Imperial County, CA | ~794 MW combined | 8minute, Recurrent, others | 2014–2020 |
| 7 | Solar Star (1+2) | Kern + Los Angeles counties, CA | 579 MW | BHE Renewables (Berkshire) | 2015 |
| 8 | Topaz Solar Farm | San Luis Obispo, CA | 550 MW | BHE Renewables | 2014 |
| 9 | Desert Sunlight Solar Farm | Riverside County, CA | 550 MW | NextEra, GE Energy, Sumitomo | 2015 |
| 10 | Copper Mountain Solar Complex | Boulder City, NV | 802 MW (DC) / ~550 MW AC combined | Sempra Generation, Consolidated Edison | 2010–2019 |
Notes on methodology: AC capacity used as the primary ranking metric (matches how PPAs and ISO interconnection are sized). Several California and Nevada projects are multi-phase complexes where individual phases were built across multiple years.
For the broader US solar farm market view, see solar farm US 2026 complete guide.
2. Why Texas dominates the largest US solar farm rankings
In 2026, Texas hosts more of the largest US solar farms than any other state — 5+ of the top 15. The reasons:
- Land: vast acreage available at agricultural-grade pricing
- Irradiance: West Texas and the Pecos basin have excellent solar resource
- ERCOT competitive market: no traditional utility procurement bottleneck; merchant or hybrid PPAs viable
- Interconnection speed: ERCOT queue is the fastest US ISO (2–4 years vs. 5–7 in MISO/PJM)
- Transmission: existing high-voltage corridors for wind have been expanded for solar
- Hyperscaler demand: Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft data centers in DFW and Austin pulling corporate PPAs
This combination is unique in the US. California competes on installed base, but California's slower interconnection and complex permitting make new gigawatt-scale solar farms harder than in Texas.
3. Notable runner-up solar farms in the 400–650 MW range
Beyond the top 10, several US solar farms in the 400–650 MW range are operating in 2026:
| Solar farm | Location | AC capacity | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotsylvania Solar | Spotsylvania County, VA | 500 MW | sPower (now AES Clean Energy) |
| Hill Top Solar | Liberty County, TX | 490 MW | EDF Renewables |
| Lily Solar | Brown County, TX | 480 MW | Recurrent (Canadian Solar) |
| Springbok Solar | Kern County, CA | 443 MW | NextEra |
| Mesquite Solar | Maricopa County, AZ | 414 MW | Sempra |
The "second tier" of US solar farms — 400–650 MW projects — is growing rapidly. By 2027–2028 we expect 8–12 more US solar farms in this size class.
4. The gigawatt-scale solar farm pipeline (2027–2028)
The next wave of the largest US solar farms — projects with 1+ GW AC capacity — is in construction or late development. Notable pipeline projects:
- Samson Solar (TX, Invenergy): 1,310 MW under construction
- Dinwiddie / various VA hyperscaler solar farms (Lightsource bp, others): combined 1–2 GW
- Several unnamed Texas Permian basin projects by NextEra and AES: 1+ GW each
- Westlands Solar Park (CA, several developers): up to 2.7 GW across multi-developer build-out
- Multiple Nevada DOI BLM lease solar farms: 500 MW–1 GW each, under environmental review
By 2028, the US is likely to have 5–10 operating solar farms in the 1+ GW capacity range. By 2030, gigawatt-scale solar farms will be common — though they require larger BESS pairing to manage grid output ramps.
5. How "largest" is defined: AC vs DC, operating vs under construction
Solar farm rankings get confusing because different sources use different definitions:
- DC nameplate (panel capacity): typically 1.25–1.45x AC inverter capacity due to DC/AC oversizing
- AC capacity (inverter output): the number that matters for ISO interconnection and PPA sizing
- Operating (commercial operation date achieved) vs. under construction vs. announced
- Phased projects: should each phase be counted separately, or aggregated as a single solar farm?
This guide uses AC capacity for operating projects and aggregates phased projects when they share a single interconnection or PPA structure. Other sources may produce different rankings using different methodology.
6. How largest US solar farms compare globally
The largest US solar farms (~1.5 GW) are large but not the largest globally. Comparison:
| Project | Country | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Bhadla Solar Park | India | 2,245 MW |
| Pavagada Solar Park | India | 2,050 MW |
| Tengger Desert Solar Park | China | 1,547 MW |
| Various Chinese / Indian solar parks | China / India | 1+ GW each |
| Largest US solar farm complex (Roadrunner) | US | ~1,500 MW |
US solar farms are catching up but still trail global leaders, especially India's solar park model (multi-developer co-located solar farms sharing transmission). We covered the India context in India solar 2030 280GW trajectory and India solar manufacturing 100GW 2026.
7. Frequently asked questions
What is the largest solar farm in the US in 2026?
Roadrunner Solar in Pecos County, Texas (Enel) at approximately 1,500 MW AC across phased units. Edwards & Sanborn in California is a close second.
How big is the largest US solar farm in acres?
Roadrunner Solar covers roughly 8,000–10,000 acres across its phased units. Edwards & Sanborn covers ~4,000 acres.
Why are the largest solar farms in Texas and California?
Texas: ERCOT competitive market, fast interconnection, vast land. California: mature solar industry, mid-2010s permitting + transmission alignment.
Will the US ever have a solar farm bigger than India's Bhadla?
Yes — multiple US projects in development by 2028 are in the 1.5–3 GW range. Bhadla itself is a solar park (multiple developers) rather than a single solar farm.
How much electricity does a 1 GW solar farm generate annually?
At 28–30% capacity factor, roughly 2.5–2.7 TWh/year. Enough to power ~250,000 average US households.
Who owns the largest US solar farms?
Mix of independent power producers (NextEra, Enel, Invenergy, Lightsource bp), utility subsidiaries (BHE Renewables, Sempra), and infrastructure-owned (8minute, Recurrent / Canadian Solar).
How long do the largest solar farms operate?
Design life is typically 30–35 years. Modules typically warrantied 25 years with linear degradation. Operating life can extend to 40+ years with one inverter swap and gradual module replacement.
Researched and drafted with AI assistance; reviewed and edited by Priya Sharma. Companion reading: solar farm US 2026 complete guide, how to build a solar farm US 2026, solar farm land leasing US 2026, top US solar companies 2026. Browse more solar coverage. Standards: editorial, AI disclosure.