The US solar project pipeline grew 88% in the year to October 2026, but nearly half of all utility-scale projects fail to reach completion. While all projects are unique, key trends revealed in data from software supplier PVcase point to some of the most common failure modes.

In a survey of utility-scale solar professionals commissioned by PVcase, 44% of US respondents said that half or more of their projects never get built. This was roughly in line with the global average of 46%, although the United States is a very specific solar market with its own set of challenges.

The software solutions provider’s findings are the result of market research conducted in July 2026, surveying 405 utility-scale solar professionals across four key markets, with roughly 100 respondents in the United States, Germany, Italy and Spain. PVcase’s sample included a mix of senior executives, VPs, engineers and other project stakeholders.

There was variation among respondents, with 37% of US respondents successfully delivering more than 75% of their projects, while 28% succeeded on half or fewer projects – that suggests there are very different developer experiences occurring in the US market.

What does seem to ring true for the vast majority is that if a utility-scale solar project is going to fail, it’s going to happen at one of two points. The permissions stage, when projects need to secure planning permission and grid connection agreements, and the project financing stage, when it is time to make the final investment decision (FID).

That timing matters, according to Miguel Herrero, senior market adviser at PVcase.

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