• June 30, 2025

The US solar market has experienced significant growth. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association of America (SEIA) and Wood MacKenzie, solar energy will account for 66% of new grid capacity in 2024 alone. The soaring demand for electricity from data centers, generative artificial intelligence, and national residential and industrial electrification has driven this growth. However, the industry challenges faced by solar project developers, EPC (Power Procurement Companies), and IPP (Independent Power Plants) are not only due to the rapid transformation of the industry. These challenges are reshaping the way developers think about system design, procurement, and risk management, prompting the industry to prioritize domestic procurement, supply chain resilience, and supplier collaboration. The return of solar manufacturing industry is not just a response to tariffs or short-term policy changes, but a long-term strategy to reduce the risks of solar projects. Shoals Technologies Group is at the forefront of this transformation. The company is developing a strong autonomous supply chain for its Electric Balance System (EBOS) solution, which manages the critical infrastructure for power flow from solar panels to the grid. The EBOS components include wiring systems, circuit breakers, combiner boxes, and other electrical protection devices, serving as the connection points for each project. They play a crucial role in ensuring system reliability and performance. Shoals has invested heavily in building a 640000 square foot factory in Tennessee to meet the growing domestic demand, which will increase production capacity by over 50%. Shoals' internal production allows us to implement advanced design and engineering while maintaining high quality standards, "said Kevin Boyce, Director of Solar Product Line Management at Shoals, at the recent" Solar World "webinars. In addition to expanding production capacity, Shoals is also establishing strong domestic partnerships. The company has continued its 20-year partnership with First Solar by providing customized junction boxes and wiring harnesses. Shoals' OEM account manager Kyle Garvin said, "We will work together to lead the return of the US solar supply chain and invest in a stronger, more resilient, and American made energy future." This collaboration expands First Solar's influence in the industry and enhances its contribution to job creation and the US economy.

• June 27, 2025

Namaste Solar has completed a 333.54 kW rooftop project for the modular residential factory Boulder Mod in Boulder, Colorado. The factory was built in collaboration with the City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District, and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, dedicated to producing energy-efficient, fully electric modular homes that provide permanent affordable housing for low - and middle-income families. This project directly supports the city's comprehensive climate action plan and reduces the operating costs of the all electric Boulder Mod factory by providing solar power. Boulder is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 and becoming a net zero emission city by 2035. The system aims to offset the expected total electricity consumption of the factory, ensuring that every saved energy cost is reinvested in Boulder's mission to expand affordable housing. This project embodies the strong collaboration between renewable energy and community development, "said Jay Sugnet, Senior Planner and Project Manager of the Modular Housing Factory in Boulder City. By integrating solar energy into the Boulder modular project, we not only reduce our carbon footprint, but also support the production of affordable and energy-efficient housing that our community urgently needs Boulder City has a long-term partnership with Namaste Solar in renewable energy projects. In 2020, Namaste Solar installed 13 systems in its facilities in Boulder, including parking lots and water resource facilities. The smooth implementation of the Boulder Mod solar project is partly due to the incentive measures in the Inflation Reduction Act. Introducing a selective compensation (also known as direct compensation) system, allowing local governments to receive tax exemptions for clean energy projects even as non taxable entities. Through selective compensation and additional subsidies from Xcel Energy's "Solar * Rewards" program for eligible and disproportionately affected communities, Boulder is able to maximize the economic benefits of installing solar projects at this critical facility. The project has received a grant of $333540.00 from the Energy Impact Offset Fund, a regulation that requires cannabis growers to offset 100% of their energy use. Municipal authorities now have more options than ever before to utilize solar energy to reduce costs and cope with rising energy costs, "said Rachel Mountain, co owner and commercial sales director of Namaste Solar. This project is an outstanding example of how renewable energy can empower cities to achieve climate goals while supporting innovative projects like the Boulder Mod. This is a win-win situation for both the community and the environment. ”

• June 26, 2025

As part of its "Solar Employment Path" program, Trina Solar donated 300 solar panels to YouthBuild Global. These n-type TOPCon components will be used in solar installation training laboratories across the United States to provide photovoltaic bracket system installation training for YouthBuild students and provide practical experience that is crucial for the solar installation profession. Some modules will be installed on affordable housing units built by YouthBuild students in YouthBuild Lake County, North Chicago, Illinois, to help low-income families offset their utility bills. The remaining modules will be installed on the roof of CLC, Inc. YouthBuild building located in Fort Worth, Texas, to help offset most, if not all, of the facility's utility bills, thereby allocating more resources to student support and project expansion. Cao Jianjun, Vice President of North American Photovoltaic Business at Trina Solar, said, "This donation is not just about solar panels, but also about creating opportunities for our future leaders. It is crucial to help future generations acquire real skills that will power their careers and community development in the coming years. Trina Solar is honored to collaborate with YouthBuild Global to support this initiative. ” As the headquarters of the youth construction movement, YouthBuild Global has joined forces and collaborated with a vast network of youth construction projects worldwide, supporting young people to achieve their aspirations and fully unleash their potential. In youth development projects, young people who have dropped out of school or become unemployed can regain their education, acquire vocational skills and qualifications, and become community leaders. YouthBuild Global's "Solar Energy Employment Path" program is dedicated to training young people in solar installation skills and providing them with relevant qualifications to help them achieve meaningful career development in the thriving renewable energy sector. By providing students with experience in installing a universal system, the YouthBuild project ensures that participants can proficiently use various solar energy technologies upon entering the workplace. We are very grateful for Trina's generous donation. This is of great significance for our project and the young people we serve, "said John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild Global. This means more practical training, more practical experience, and more opportunities to create the future and community for our next generation The solar employment pathway program is rapidly expanding, with plans to install solar panels in more project locations to reduce operating costs and provide affordable solar solutions for new homeowners.

• June 25, 2025

Greenskies Clean Focus is a national provider of renewable energy solutions, having completed a 1.62 MW solar project portfolio for Hackensack Public Schools (HPS) in New Jersey. This combination consists of eight solar energy systems installed in seven locations, including all four primary schools, one junior high school, one high school, and the Education Commission administrative building. Although most systems are installed on the roof, the roof and carport solar panels of Hakensak High School are combined together. These systems consist of over 3600 solar panels in total. This project demonstrates how the school district can utilize solar energy to achieve financial and environmental goals, "said Bryant Bernhardt, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Greenskies. We are honored to support Hakensak Public School in creating a more sustainable future for its students, faculty, and community The installed solar cell arrays and their respective positions are as follows: Hakensak High School - Total 1 MW Hakensak High School -303 kW Nelly K. Park Elementary School -113 kW Jackson Avenue School (Elementary) -70 kW Fanny Mayer Hilles School (Primary) -41 kW Fairmont School (Elementary) -24 kW Padawano Center (BOE Administrative Building) -65 kW Greenskies is the solar developer for these projects EPC、 The financing party and owner will be responsible for the long-term operation and maintenance of the project. The funding for these facilities comes from a 15 year solar power purchase agreement, which allows HPS to enjoy the benefits of clean energy without upfront investment. By transitioning to renewable energy, we are reducing our impact on the environment and achieving long-term cost savings that can be directly applied to our classroom teaching, "said Assistant Director Andrea Parchment. We also provide students with practical cases of innovation and sustainable development. Every day when they walk into the school, they can witness firsthand how wise energy choices can help education and fulfill environmental responsibilities

• June 24, 2025

According to the latest monthly analysis of clean energy projects tracked by E2 and the Clean Economy Tracker, as the US Senate prepares to vote on a bill to increase taxes on the clean energy industry, some clean energy companies cancelled $1.4 billion worth of new factories and clean energy projects in May. The latest cancelled projects include manufacturing plant projects in West Virginia, New York, Alabama, Arizona, and Washington, which means $15.5 billion worth of new plants and power projects have been cancelled since January 1st. These cancelled projects were originally expected to create nearly 12000 new job opportunities. According to E2's analysis, the Republican congressional district suffered the most severe losses. As of now, over $9 billion in investments in Republican districts have been cancelled, postponed, or closed in 2025, resulting in nearly 10000 job cuts. The $1.4 billion project cancelled in May is expected to create at least 1000 new job opportunities. The five closed projects announced last month resulted in the layoff of 600 workers. The projects cancelled in May also included General Motors' decision to convert an electric car factory located in Tonawanda, New York to produce eight cylinder gasoline cars. The ongoing policy uncertainty and the consequences of expected tax increases for clean energy companies are becoming increasingly clear, "said Michael Timberlake, communications director at E2. Enterprises are responding to the Senate proposal - just like the House proposal - which will significantly reduce tax credits that drive the prosperity of the US energy and manufacturing industries Along with numerous project cancellations, the company announced in May an investment of nearly $450 million to build new solar, electric vehicle, grid, and transmission equipment factories in five states, including $120 million from electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian to build a 1.2 million square foot supplier park in Illinois, expected to create 100 new jobs. In addition, Prolec GE Waukesh announced plans to invest $140 million to build a power transformer manufacturing plant in North Carolina, which is expected to create 330 new jobs. As of May, 62% of all announced clean energy projects, 71% of all jobs, and 82% of all investments are located in Republican congressional districts. The cancellation of these projects is just adding insult to injury, "Timberlake said. Last year, renewable energy accounted for over 90% of the new electricity supply in the United States. Cancelling these projects could mean a reduction in available energy, and both consumers and businesses would face higher electricity prices Since the federal Clean Energy Tax Credit Act was passed by Congress in August 2022, a total of 53 announced projects have been cancelled, closed, or scaled back. These abandoned projects involve over 21000 job opportunities and $18.2 billion in investments.

• June 23, 2025

With the maturity of the solar energy industry, more and more regulations and supply chain bottlenecks have become a part of daily business. In order to maintain competitiveness and profitability, wholesale buyers must diversify their business models. One method is to implement a secondary market strategy, including collaborating with solar equipment brokers to expand the accessibility of photovoltaic hardware pricing and supply. Wide coverage is necessary to achieve stability in fluctuations. What is hindering the company from exploring and implementing secondary market solutions? Perhaps the main reason is a misunderstanding of what the secondary market is and what services brokers can provide. One misconception is that the secondary solar energy market does not exist. I think people in the solar industry underestimate the size of the secondary market, "said Christian Adams, CEO and founder of Alchemy Solar Distribution. And it's growing, especially since I founded the company three years ago Another misconception is that the secondary market only includes second-hand products. In fact, a large portion of the secondary market in the United States today consists of brand new products with warranty. I originally thought that by 2016, the excess supply of modules would dry up, "said Yousri Abdou, founder of Aten Solar. But that's not the case. There are always people who want to sell those unnecessary, brand new original components EnergyBin is a consortium of photovoltaic professionals dedicated to promoting the resale and recycling of solar equipment, of which Aten Solar and Alchemy Solar Distribution are members. According to the alliance, 1.7 million components have been listed for resale on its exchange since 2020. By 2024, 95% of components will be new, with over 90% achieving an efficiency of 19.0% or higher. The secondary market provides a distribution channel for components and other photovoltaic equipment that were previously sold but are now being resold due to project surplus, cancellation, or liquidation. The purpose is to re market and deploy these products to projects that currently require equipment, rather than storing them in warehouses and depreciating over time. Solar equipment brokers (also known as resellers) are committed to matching products with buyers' needs. Brokers have a vast network of relationships and are able to find products that are usually priced lower than what buyers purchase on their own. In turbulent markets, prices and supply conditions are influenced by supply chain issues, geopolitical factors (including tariffs, net measurement changes, and gradual elimination of incentives), and technological advancements. Smart wholesale buyers may benefit greatly from partnering with brokers who can expand the range of products purchased by buyers. In addition, brokers can also help negotiate purchase terms, which is very helpful for developers, EPCs, and contractors who need complex projects spanning months or years....

• June 20, 2025

ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that as part of its ongoing efforts to improve its recycling capabilities, the company will pilot a new pre recycling clause in four projects, incorporating the recycling of solar panels and project components into the preliminary agreement. This innovative solution was developed in collaboration between ENGIE and SOLARCYCLE. The pre recycling clause incorporates recycling into the power purchase agreement and helps developers include scrap material recycling at the beginning of the project lifecycle. This is particularly important for energy buyers who prioritize project circularity and sustainability goals. These agreements ensure that approximately one million solar panels in the 375 MW project in the Midwest region of the United States are recycled after their useful life, thereby supporting the comprehensive recycling of the project. SOLARCYCLE estimates that through this move, the company will reduce 48 million pounds of material landfilling and avoid approximately 33000 tons of carbon emissions. In addition, all construction waste and system components will be maximally recycled and reused. Caroline Mead, Senior Vice President of North American Power Marketing at ENGIE, said, "We are delighted to put this innovative approach into practice. Our collaboration with SOLARCYCLE reflects our shared commitment to the long-term sustainability of the industry. ” With the increasing demand for electricity in the United States, domestic clean energy is crucial for meeting energy capacity needs. The collaboration between ENGIE and SOLARCYCLE means that the solar panels and system components in these projects will have full traceability to ensure the achievement of recycling goals and ultimately return to the domestic supply chain, supporting the research and development of the next generation of clean energy materials. This commitment is thanks to SOLARCYCLE's advanced tracking technology, which ensures that every solar panel in the project is recycled and the recycled materials are returned to the supply chain. Jesse Simons, co-founder and Chief Business Officer of SOLARCYCLE, said: "ENGIE's pre recycling clause sets a new precedent for the utility scale solar industry, proving that circular economy principles can be achieved without complex regulatory interventions or upfront fees. We are delighted to collaborate creatively with leading companies like ENGIE, supporting their commitment to circular economy, household energy, and sustainable development

• June 19, 2025

SolarEdge Technologies announced that it has become a qualified battery manufacturer for Pacific Power's Wattsmart battery program. The plan aims to incentivize residents and commercial building owners in Washington and Oregon to install solar cells. Participants can now receive economic rewards by allowing utility companies to use stored battery energy to maintain grid stability and reduce peak energy demand. According to the terms of the plan, homeowners who install SolarEdge DC coupled batteries can earn $600 per kilowatt, with a maximum of $3000 per battery, which greatly offsets the prepaid costs at registration. Non residential users can earn up to $600 per kilowatt, up to a maximum of 30 kilowatts. The Pacific Power Wattsmart battery program builds on the success of similar programs in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, where thousands of SolarEdge batteries participate in Pacific Power's local programs, helping to support broader clean energy recovery capabilities in the United States This plan has four main advantages: real-time frequency regulation to balance the power grid, peak load management to alleviate pressure during high demand periods, and alleviating circuit congestion through aggregated battery support. At the same time, the battery itself can provide backup power to maintain home operation during power outages. Marty Rogers, General Manager of SolarEdge North America, stated that the Wattsmart battery plan is a win-win situation for both homeowners and the power grid. Participants can earn up to $3000 per battery, while also utilizing our DC coupling architecture to avoid three energy conversions, providing higher efficiency and more available solar energy. This is a smarter, cleaner, and more cost-effective way to maximize backup power and save costs

• June 18, 2025

EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) announced that the 999 kW distributed generation project Bar Harbor Solar has entered commercial operation. Bar Harbor Solar is located in Hancock County and is the second solar project operated by EDPR NA in Maine. Bar Harbor Solar will provide affordable, clean, and reliable electricity to the Bangor School District, Epstein Properties, and more local businesses and institutions, enhancing the state's resilience and energy independence. David Kane, Director of Distributed Generation Development at EDP R NA, said, "Maine needs reliable energy to power its communities and economy. We are honored to meet this demand through innovative, affordable power solutions that support employment, investment, and sustained growth. Bar Harbor Solar demonstrates our commitment to the future development of Maine's energy, and we look forward to providing more cost saving, tax generating power infrastructure to serve the state's residents, communities, and businesses.