NextEra Energy (NEE -0.22%) is one of the largest electric utilities and energy infrastructure companies in North America. It owns Florida Power & Light (FPL), the largest electric utility in the country, with about 12 million customers. Meanwhile, NextEra Energy Resources owns, operates, and develops energy infrastructure, including renewable energy projects, electricity transmission lines, and gas-power infrastructure such as pipelines and power plants.
FPL owns and operates a nearly 8 GW solar energy portfolio, the largest utility-owned solar portfolio in the country. FPL plans to add over 17 GW of solar and another 7.6 GW of battery storage over the next decade to support its customers' growing electricity needs. By 2034, FPL expects to get about 35% of its power from solar energy, up from 9% this year.
Meanwhile, NextEra Energy Resources had more than 38 GW of generation and storage capacity in operation in 2025 (21% of which was solar). The company expected to add 31.5-41.5 GW of new solar energy capacity by 2032.
Factors to consider when investing in solar energy stocks
Here are some key factors investors should evaluate when selecting solar energy stocks:
- The strength of its financial profile.
- How much visibility it has into its future growth.
- The potential impact of changes in government support or regulations on its business.
- Its business model.
How to invest in solar energy stocks
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add solar energy stocks to your portfolio:
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Industry outlook and trends
Demand for solar energy is nearly as hot as the sun. "Compared to other sources of power, the rise in solar generation is the fastest in the history of electricity,” according to Daan Struyven, the co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs (GS +0.08%). The investment bank expects global solar installations will rise to 914 GW by 2030, 57% above 2024's levels. Several catalysts are powering red-hot demand for solar, including climate change, falling installation costs, and rising electricity consumption from AI data centers.
