CEA and Wood Mack highlight the impact of the US BESS market from trade tariffs. It will have a harsher effect on the sector than on solar PV or wind because the BESS market heavily depends on imported products from China, with most battery cells used in utility-scale projects last year coming from there. The cost of utility-scale BESS could rise between 12% and 50% across three tariff scenarios modelled by Wood Mack.
This article argues why commercial developers can save money, get projects done faster and effectively scale by shifting to the EPC model. It eliminates the need to juggle dozens of subcontractors and their competing priorities and transform project risk profiles, given that there is clear responsibility for project logistics. It also impacts how developer teams work as well.
Q1 stats say that increased manufacturing capacity supports the growing solar and storage growth – they now account for 82% of all new generating capacity added to the grid. Manufacturing had the 3rd largest quarter for new manufacturing with solar cell production capacity doubling in Q1 to 2 GW. But the reconciliation plus rising tariffs threaten this trajectory.
Legislation directing the DOE to conduct assessments of the U.S. electricity generation and transmission supply chains was approved by a House energy subcommittee last week and is going on to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. They would be required to look at trends and vulnerabilities in the supply, demand, and availability of components for or related to generating or transmitting electricity – and report back in a year. This bill is supported by electric manufacturers.
Qcells is adding to its panel recycling with the launch of a new biz unit, EcoRecycle. It will open its first recycling facility this year in Georgia and plans to build out a nationwide network of recycling centers. EcoRecycle is meant to provide a domestic option to recover and reuse materials like aluminum, glass, silver, and copper from retired modules.
Last week Utah Sen. John Curtis wrote an op-ed discussing a more detailed/nuanced approach to the reconciliation bill, especially re IRA incentives. He agreed that some elements of the IRA should be cut, but argued that others support strategic energy assets and a robust domestic economy. He cautioned against prematurely cutting off initiatives or doing so without a reasonable, responsible offramp.
This Greentech Renewables video discusses why domestic manufacturing is so important and then deep dives into Silfab’s offerings, including specs for their resi and commercial panels and a discussion about what qualifies as domestic content. The video is below.
