2024 Issue 4

Welcome to "Frankly Speaking," your monthly go-to source for the latest news and insights in solar manufacturing. I'm Frank Andorka, a 12-year solar industry veteran and Content Lead for Akhia . Each edition will explore the most pressing issues, innovative technologies, and policy developments shaping solar manufacturing. This newsletter is proudly brought to you by Akhia , a full-service, manufacturing-focused marketing communications company based in Hudson, Ohio.

While it appears #solar manufacturing is moving ahead at breakneck speed and has absorbed approximately $13 billion in investments since 2022, the news isn’t as good for Meyer Burger . Meanwhile, Qcells North America scores an enormous loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) , and the Inflation Reduction Act continues to work its magic.

What I’m Reading I can’t lie: Jigar Shah posted this article originally, but as a former Model U.N. practitioner, I couldn’t resist reading an article in Foreign Affairs Magazine about #cleanenergy. Brian Deese wrote a thought-provoking article arguing—persuasively, I think—that the United States should launch a clean energy Marshall Plan. Following the example of George Marshall after World War II, Deese suggested the United States help other countries become carbon-free, which would have fourfold benefits. It would:

• Accelerate the clean energy transition for countries who need incentives to do so.
• Build goodwill for the United States with current allies and open new opportunities to forge alliances in areas of the world where our influence has waned.
• Deprive China of an opportunity to expand their global influence in the clean energy economy (they’re already ahead of us in this area—we can’t let this challenge go unanswered).
• Create thriving markets for U.S. solar manufacturing by providing aid on the condition that ?U.S. manufactured products are used.

It’s a well-thought-out argument that should be forwarded to both U.S. presidential campaigns posthaste. Take a read here and let me know what you think.

Without further ado, let’s get to the news:

If you had any lingering doubts about how well the Inflation Reduction Act has worked to push the clean energy transition forward, doubt no more. It has driven over $270 billion in clean energy investments, including $13 billion for solar manufacturing. This growth has created jobs, revitalized local economies, and boosted U.S. leadership in sustainable energy. The IRA's impact is especially significant in regions historically lacking investment, fostering long-term economic and environmental benefits. For more details, you can read the full article here. ( Jack Conness from Forbes )

In less happy news, Meyer Burger has canceled its planned 2 GW solar cell manufacturing plant in Colorado Springs, citing financial viability concerns. The company is restructuring, halting a 0.7 GW expansion at its Arizona module plant. Meyer Burger initially sought U.S. tax credit monetization under the Inflation Reduction Act but will now pursue financing on a reduced scale. You can read more here. ( Matthew Lynas from pv magazine USA )

Since the United States is still in the process of building its domestic solar #supplychain, President Biden increased the tariff rate quota on solar cell imports from 5 GW to 12.5 GW, allowing more duty-free cells to enter the U.S. market. This adjustment supports U.S. solar module production while domestic solar cell manufacturing scales up. The change is part of ongoing modifications to the Section 201 tariffs and aims to stabilize the American solar manufacturing sector. Read the full article here. ( Chris Crowell from Solar Builder Magazine )

This is how you take back the solar supply chain from China: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Qcells North America a $1.4 billion loan guarantee to build a major solar component factory in Cartersville, Georgia. This facility, expected to start operations in 2024, will be the largest ingot and wafer plant in the country, creating 1,950 jobs and producing 3.3 GW of solar panels annually. Check out this article for the details. Kate Magill from Manufacturing Dive )

Quick hits:

Heliene and Premier Energies Limited will build a Minnesota solar plant, creating 200 jobs and producing 1 GW annually by 2026. The details are here. ( Reuters )

TMEIC Port Technologies plans a 9 GW solar inverter factory in Brookshire, Texas, creating 300 jobs and opening in October. Read more here. ( Ryan Kennedy from pv magazine USA )

EBON SOLAR plans to invest $942 million to build an 834,000-square-foot solar cell manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, creating over 900 jobs. Read the full article here. ( Sara Samora from Manufacturing Dive )

Enphase Energy has begun accepting pre-orders for U.S.-made IQ Batteries and Microinverters, supporting domestic manufacturing and qualifying for IRA tax credits. Read the details here. ( Kelsey Misbrener from Solar Power World )

ICYMI

Check out this edition of Ben Thinking, a manufacturing- and marketing-focused newsletter from the brain of Ben Brugler , the CEO of Akhia , and sign up!

Don’t lose sight of #ManufacturingMonth coming in October. The incomparable Nancy Spatholt offers some suggestions about how to make the month, which celebrates manufacturing in all its forms, work for your solar manufacturing business. Nancy is a passionate advocate for manufacturers everywhere, so you know she comes from a place of love.

Oh, and don’t forget to sign up to receive this newsletter each month and share it with any colleagues who are interested in the solar manufacturing space. You know you want to!

If you’re a solar manufacturer and have news to share, you can send it my way at [email protected]. Until next month!

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