WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) released a roadmap of near- and long-term steps to dramatically expand America’s solar manufacturing sector as the Solar Manufacturing for America Act (SEMA) is enacted as part of the Inflationary Initiative. Reduction Act (IRA).
A new document, Catalyzing American Solar Manufacturing, describes how the solar and storage industries can take advantage of this policy support and build a manufacturing base that is competitive, meets sufficient demand, and supports a strong, diverse workforce. It also provides a snapshot of the current market landscape, as well as an analysis of how SEMA and other provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act can help scale domestic manufacturing.
“For the first time in the United States, we have industrial policies that will usher in a new era of clean energy production,” said SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “This roadmap is a plan to strategically grow America’s clean energy supply chain and support companies that have committed to US manufacturing after the reconciliation package becomes law. If we follow the recommendations in the article, we can grow the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce and put the solar and storage industries on a safe, sustainable and equitable path of growth for decades to come.
Global instability and supply chain challenges in the past few years have underscored the importance of local manufacturing and SEIA’s need to achieve 50 gigawatts of US solar capacity by 2030. The U.S. solar and storage industries help protect against global supply disruptions and ensure the safety and reliability of the electric grid.
Once SEMA is implemented, the roadmap advises manufacturers to consider demand and timing for their products and focus primarily on low-end production. This primarily involves expanding local module production so that once these products are available, there is an existing demand for local cells, ingots and wafers. The paper notes that domestic production may grow in the near term as IRA dramatically increases demand for solar and storage products, but these opportunities must be expanded over several years.
Thoughtful industrial policy and a long-term strategy for domestic manufacturing are key to strengthening America’s energy security and creating hundreds of thousands of high-quality manufacturing jobs.
This roadmap is the first report in a series of papers that will focus on emerging opportunities and challenges for the solar energy and storage industry. The next report will focus on building a strong US manufacturing base for energy storage equipment.
Read the roadmap and learn more about SEIA’s vision for the Solar+ Decade.
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About SEIA®:
The Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA) is leading the transition to a clean energy economy, creating a framework for 30% of US electricity generation to come from solar by 2030. SEIA works with 1,000 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies. that create fair market rules that create jobs in every community and encourage competition and the growth of reliable, affordable solar energy. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Media contact:
Jen Bristol, SEIA’s Senior Director of Communications, [email protected] (202) 556-2886