The U.S. is on track to install about 33 GW of utility-scale solar in 2025, a record year that could see solar provide over half of all new capacity added to the grid. If developers deliver the full 64 GW planned across technologies, 2025 would set a new all-time record for U.S. capacity additions.
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Where the growth is happening
- Texas leads: 27% of H1 solar additions were in Texas, with another 9.7 GW planned there for H2 2025. Texas overtook California for the largest utility-scale solar fleet. U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Storage rising with solar: Battery storage is the second-largest contributor to new capacity in 2025, with both solar and storage set for record annual additions if plans hold. Co-location is accelerating demand for hybrid skills. U.S. Energy Information Administration
What this means for permanent hiring
A record buildout changes workforce needs from short-term resourcing to enduring, repeatable capability inside developers, IPPs and EPCs.
Roles we see scaling in 2025-26
- Project development and permitting: greenfield originators, real estate, environmental planners, permitting managers.
- Interconnection and grid: queue strategy, studies, transmission planning, regulatory affairs.
- Engineering and EPC: civil, electrical and structural engineers, owner’s engineers, project managers, site managers, QA/QC.
- BESS integration: system design, controls, SCADA, commissioning, safety specialists.
- Commercial and finance: PPA origination, offtake, project finance, tax equity support, supply chain and procurement.
- Operations and asset management: performance engineers, CMMS leads, reliability and HSE.
Hiring signals to watch
- Texas-centric footprints: Teams anchoring in ERCOT while keeping optionality for multi-state pipelines. U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Solar + storage teams: Hybrid portfolios need leaders who understand both PV and BESS lifecycles. U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Process maturity: Companies moving from single-project to programme delivery need permanent heads of PMO, standards and fleet O&M.
How to win the talent race in 2025
- Resource ahead of NTP: Build permanent benches for interconnection and permitting well before construction windows open.
- Hire for hybrid skill sets: Prioritise candidates with PV plus BESS experience to de-risk co-located projects.
- Streamline offers: Tighten interview loops and give clarity on relocation to Texas, Arizona or California hot spots.
- Build retention early: Offer development tracks from project delivery into fleet operations and asset optimisation.
Why Navitas?
Navitas specialises in permanent recruitment for U.S. renewables, placing project development, engineering, interconnection and storage talent that scales with your pipeline. If you are building multi-GW portfolios or standing up a solar & storage platform, our network covers the skills above and the leaders who connect them.
