Distributed Sun’s Post

Last week was undoubtedly solar manufacturing week at the White House, with two major announcements on tariffs, tax credits and federal funding aimed at filling gaps in still-flagging domestic supply chains. What I found interesting is that while the solar industry usually freaks out over tariffs, the response this time was pretty muted, as per my deep dive in NetZero Insider. In particular, commercial developers I spoke with have already shifted to domestic supply chains or are working on it. They expect some turbulence in the market, but are ready to weather a few bumps -- hopefully softened by tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act -- and they want to see more federal and private investment in solar manufacturing, with a huge focus on solar cells and the silicon wafers needed to make them. ASAP RTO Insider LLC Silicon Ranch Corporation New Columbia Solar The White House Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables Click here to read on! https://lnkd.in/dyEe6GWj

Extremely honored to have given my thoughts to RTO Insider: your eyes and ears on the organized electric markets on the new White House measures to bolster domestic solar manufacturing! Go read the article to learn more about how developers are navigating these changes.

U.S. Solar Co. who filed bankruptcy in ’18 to reopen idled factory thanks to Biden climate law - The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). A solar cell manufacturing facility in Georgia, which closed a few years ago, is making a comeback. Suniva, a solar manufacturing company, has announced its plans to reopen a plant in Norcross, Georgia, which had been shut down in 2017 due to financial difficulties. The company believes that the subsidies available to clean energy component manufacturers will provide the necessary support for the facility’s revival. Customers opting for domestically produced solar cells can benefit from a tax credit, which is complemented by significant tax incentives for the manufacturers themselves. Projects using panels containing domestically-produced cells will be able to qualify for an IRA tax credit worth 10% of a facility’s cost for using American-made equipment. That “bonus” would be on top of a 30% tax credit for renewable energy facilities. According to Reuters, there is currently no supply of U.S.-made solar cells, and Suniva sees the “Made in America” incentives as crucial for establishing a domestic supply of products that are predominantly manufactured in China. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dXd8xCk7 #SolarEnergy #CleanEnergy #InflationReductionAct

The US aims to revitalize its solar manufacturing industry, challenged by China’s dominance. Strategies include tariffs, tax credits, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Yet, obstacles remain, including workforce training and policy stability, raising questions about the sector’s future. #SolarIndustry #ManufacturingRevival https://lnkd.in/g3HxdJp3

✅ Massive growth in predicted solar production capacity by 15% within the next four years 🔆 ✅ Potential tariff alterations and regulatory regulations could lead to increased costs of solar panels in U.S despite increased production 📊 ✅ Emergence of new solar technologies, transitioning from PERC to TOPCon and HJT solar technology 💡 Be prepared for a significant increase in solar power production capacity projected by 15% over the next four years. However, unlike the enthusiasm you might expect from such progress, this growth comes with its inherent challenges and intricacies. For one, potential tariff adjustments and regulatory regulations like the UFLPA pose a threat to the decreasing cost of solar panels in the U.S., despite an abundant supply. The solar industry is also undergoing a technological transition, moving from PERC to more advanced technology like the TOPCon and HJT solar. While Europe is enjoying a flood of low-cost solar modules, U.S. markets may have to bear nearly double the costs due to the need for full traceability in the face of stringent import regulations. Procuring a solar array for home or other projects might become a delicate balance for both consumers and solar companies, given the rapid shifts in technology, regulations and supply chain dynamics. Yet, it's within this complexity that we find the opportunity for true innovation and progress. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com. 🌐

#ICYMI: As our COO Michael Gray said at #ISNAESNA, manufacturing solar modules in the U.S. is our most cost-effective option for scaling the industry. With a lower carbon footprint and huge economic benefits, domestic production should be a priority area for energy policymakers to champion. Read more in Forbes below. #domesticmanufacturing #solarindustry #PVmodules #supplychain  https://lnkd.in/e9MZUVXx 

"Trina Solar, Canadian Solar Inc., and LONGi Solar have each announced 5 GW of solar module #manufacturing facilities, adding a combined 15 GW of capacity. To put the investments in context, each of these factories represent $200 million to $600 million in capital expenditure. The United States only had about 7 GW of module manufacturing capacity in 2021. As of April 2023, American Clean Power Association (ACP) said that i9n an eight-month period, 46 utility-scale clean energy manufacturing facilities were announced, bringing an expected 18,000 or more US jobs. Since then, several more major announcements have followed." #newmexico #economicdevelopment

Learn more about the US Department of Commerce's Final Determination on Solar Cells and Modules from China

I would agree with Kohler if it wasn’t for OZ innovation of copper based solar panels replacing the silver component. Would the much lower cost and availability of copper plus the reported greater efficiency of copper based panels give an OZ company a sufficient comparative advantage over China made and imported solar panels?

https://lnkd.in/gmFRuf6H Solar panel prices could skyrocket if new tariffs on imports from Southeast Asia are imposed, hampering the efforts to combat climate change through solar energy.The analysis projects a 45% price increase for US-made panels, reaching 32 cents per watt, and a jaw-dropping 66% surge for imported modules, reaching 40 cents per watt. This poses a challenge to profitability and the US target of deploying enough solar power to slash greenhouse gas emissions. So how do we prepare? Companies need to expand business locally and invest in domestic cell production to secure market stability, capitalize on incentives, and foster a resilient clean energy industry. Let's turn this setback into an opportunity! #KPMGValueCreation #KPMGDeals #KPMGElevate #Solar #CleanEnergy #Renewable