Sfrazier

# **This Week in Solar: Tariffs, Rooftop Savings, and U.S. Manufacturing Growth**

The solar industry is constantly evolving, with major developments in policy, market trends, and project expansions shaping the future of renewable energy. This past week brought significant updates, including new tariffs on imported solar components, a report on rooftop solar savings, and growing momentum for U.S. solar manufacturing. Let’s break down what these updates mean for homeowners, businesses, and the industry at large.

## **Increased Tariffs on Vietnamese Solar Imports**
The U.S. Department of Commerce has raised proposed duties on solar imports from Vietnam after discovering that China is subsidizing raw materials for its companies operating in Vietnam. This change could have long-term implications for solar companies that rely on international supply chains.

Higher tariffs may lead to increased solar panel costs in the short term, but they also highlight the need for domestic solar manufacturing. As the U.S. ramps up local production, this move could encourage more homeowners to invest in solar while supporting energy independence.

## **Rooftop Solar Saves Billions, But Faces Regulatory Challenges**
A new report found that rooftop solar saved California ratepayers an impressive **$1.5 billion** in

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/21/in-case-you-missed-it-six-big-solar-stories-in-the-news-this-week-4/

# Sunnova’s Financial Struggles: What It Means for Solar Customers

The solar industry has been booming over the past decade as homeowners continue to see the benefits of making the switch to renewable energy. However, not all solar companies thrive in this competitive market. One of the latest challenges in the industry comes from Sunnova, a well-known residential solar company currently facing significant financial difficulties.

Recently, Sunnova issued a “going concern” warning, a serious red flag indicating that it may not be able to sustain operations over the next 12 months. The Wall Street Journal reported that Sunnova is seeking ways to manage its $8.5 billion in debt, which could involve creditor negotiations or restructuring options, potentially even bankruptcy.

### What Does This Mean for Solar Customers?

If you are considering installing solar panels for your home, this kind of news can be alarming. When choosing a solar company, it’s crucial to evaluate the financial stability of the installer to ensure long-term service and support. Many solar customers rely on warranties, maintenance agreements, and financing plans that span decades, so working with a company that may not be around in the future can pose risks.

### Factors to Consider When Choosing a Solar Company

1. **

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/21/oaktree-reported-to-buy-400-million-of-sunnova-debt/

# Solar Power Dominates the Energy Transition Through 2028

The future of energy in the United States is looking increasingly solar. According to recent data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), solar now accounts for 10.53% of the nation’s total installed generating capacity. As the transition toward cleaner energy accelerates, solar is poised to surpass wind, which currently holds 11.77% of the nation’s capacity.

## Solar’s Growing Role in Energy Generation

While natural gas and coal still dominate the power grid—representing nearly 43% and 15% of total capacity, respectively—the momentum is shifting toward emissions-free sources like solar. In January 2025 alone, 2,950 MW of solar capacity was added to the grid, compared to just 60 MW of new natural gas installations.

Looking ahead, FERC tracks 89 GW of high-probability solar capacity additions by January 2028. In contrast, natural gas is projected to add only 16 GW, with nearly 16 GW expected to be retired. Coal is seeing an even steeper decline, with approximately 25 GW set for retirement within the same period.

## Major Solar Projects Coming Online

Several large-scale solar arrays have

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/21/solar-exceeds-10-of-u-s-electricity-generation-capacity/

# Understanding PV Backsheet Degradation: What It Means for Your Solar Investment

One of the most important factors in maintaining the efficiency and longevity of **solar panels for your home** is understanding how different components degrade over time. A new study published in *Solar Energy* offers a comprehensive framework for evaluating **solar PV backsheet degradation** in real-world conditions.

This research, conducted across 41 sites with solar installations ranging from 1 to 38 years old, provides key insights into how the backsheets of **solar arrays for home** and commercial installations deteriorate depending on climate and environmental conditions. Here’s why this is important and how it affects your investment in solar energy.

## What Is a PV Backsheet and Why Does It Matter?

A **backsheet** is the outermost layer of a **solar panel**, designed to protect internal components from environmental damage like moisture, UV radiation, and mechanical stress. A degraded backsheet can lead to reduced electrical performance, increased maintenance costs, and a shorter lifespan for your solar installation.

## Key Findings from the Study

### 1. **Backsheet Degradation Varies by Location and Climate**
The study showed that backsheet wear and tear is **not uniform

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/21/field-survey-protocol-for-monitoring-pv-backsheet-degradation/

# Massive 6.1 MW Rooftop Community Solar Project Goes Live in Washington D.C.

The solar industry continues to transform urban spaces, and Washington D.C. just made a major leap toward sustainability with one of the largest rooftop community solar projects in the country. The newly completed **6.1 MW solar array for home** and commercial subscribers spans 700,000 square feet and is set to generate **7 million kWh of electricity annually**—enough to power nearly 1,000 households.

## What Makes This Solar Project Unique?

This project isn’t just about going **solar**—it’s about maximizing space and ensuring that clean energy reaches a broader community. Unlike traditional **solar panels for your home**, which are typically installed on individual rooftops, this project leverages large industrial rooftops to host an expansive **solar array for home subscribers**.

By using rooftop space rather than open land, this project minimizes environmental disruption and supports sustainability in a dense urban area. It’s a great example of how cities can adopt **solar panels for your home** without needing vast open spaces.

### The Tech Behind the Project

A total of **12,614 solar panels** make up this impressive solar system. The project uses

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/21/d-c-metro-area-community-solar-project-spans-700000-square-feet-of-rooftop/

# The Future of Solar: U.S. Cell Manufacturing Expands With Major Investment

The solar industry in the United States continues to evolve rapidly, with a strong push toward domestic manufacturing. This development marks a significant step forward as solar companies work to build a more independent and resilient solar supply chain. One of the latest advancements comes from a major expansion in U.S. solar cell production, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to sustainability, job creation, and energy independence.

## $265 Million Solar Cell Factory Expands Domestic Production

A U.S.-based solar company recently announced a **$265 million investment** to establish a **2 GW solar cell manufacturing facility** in San Antonio, Texas. This expansion will play a crucial role in strengthening the American solar supply chain, which has long relied on overseas manufacturing for critical components like **solar cells**. By 2026, the company plans to bring 1 GW of production capacity online, with an ultimate target of 2 GW.

This effort represents an important milestone in making **solar panels for your home** more accessible and affordable. Increased domestic production could lead to **lower costs**, reduced supply chain delays, and increased energy security for homeowners and businesses alike.

## Why Increasing U.S. Solar

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/21/mission-solar-announces-2-gw-solar-cell-manufacturing-in-texas/

# **U.S. Increases Tariffs on Chinese Solar Manufacturers in Vietnam: What It Means for the Solar Industry**

The U.S. solar industry faces another shake-up as the Department of Commerce enforces higher tariffs on Chinese solar companies operating in Vietnam. This move could have significant effects on solar panel imports, impacting the cost and availability of solar panels for your home. As the U.S. continues its push for domestic solar manufacturing, these tariffs add another layer of complexity to an already dynamic renewable energy market.

## **Why the U.S. Raised Tariffs on Chinese Solar Companies**

The Department of Commerce discovered that Chinese companies receive unfair subsidies, allowing them to cut production costs in Vietnam. These subsidies come in the form of deeply discounted raw materials such as solar wafers and solar glass, which gives these Chinese producers a competitive edge over American solar manufacturers.

In response, Commerce dramatically increased its preliminary anti-subsidy tariffs—raising some from single-digit percentages to as high as 217.40% in total duties for certain manufacturers. This decision affects major Chinese solar companies producing in Vietnam, including Jinko Solar, Trina Solar, and JA Solar.

The two primary types of duties applied are:
– **Anti-s

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/21/commerce-finds-chinese-cross-border-subsidies-hikes-proposed-duties-on-imports-from-vietnam/

# Declining Solar Costs in Illinois: What This Means for Homeowners

If you’re considering **solar panels for your home**, there’s good news coming out of Illinois. Recent data from the Illinois Solar for All program shows that the average cost per kilowatt of solar installations has been decreasing. This makes **solar energy** more accessible and cost-effective for homeowners, nonprofits, public facilities, and community solar participants.

## Lower Solar Costs Benefit Homeowners

Solar has been steadily becoming more affordable across the U.S., but Illinois is seeing particularly promising trends in cost reduction. According to a recent report evaluating the fifth year of the Illinois Solar for All program, the cost of **solar arrays for home** and community projects has gone down over the last three years. While costs can vary depending on the size and type of installation, it’s clear that improvements in technology, better financing options, and increased competition among **solar companies** are driving prices down.

For residential consumers, cost reductions mean bigger savings on energy bills. The report found that homeowners who participated in the Illinois Solar for All program are seeing between $47 to $95 in monthly net savings. That translates into potentially thousands of dollars in energy savings over the lifetime of a solar system.

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/20/five-years-of-illinois-solar-for-all/

# How Changes to the Defense Production Act Impact Solar Manufacturing in the U.S.

The solar industry has seen significant regulatory shifts in recent years, as government policies evolve to support—or in some cases, scale back—domestic clean energy production. Recently, an executive order from President Donald Trump removed solar modules, solar module components, and other energy efficiency technologies from the Defense Production Act (DPA). This decision reverses a previous move by President Joe Biden, who invoked the DPA to boost domestic solar manufacturing and expand clean energy deployment.

Understanding these policy changes is crucial for homeowners and businesses considering solar panels for your home. Let’s break down what these updates could mean for the solar industry and consumers looking to invest in a solar array for home use.

## **What Is the Defense Production Act (DPA) and Why Does It Matter for Solar?**

The DPA is a federal law that allows the government to direct industrial production in the interest of national defense. Under President Biden, the DPA was used to strengthen U.S. manufacturing of solar components, heat pumps, fuel cells and electric grid technologies. This measure provided funding and incentives to boost domestic production, reduce reliance on foreign-made solar products, and create jobs in clean energy.

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/20/trump-order-rescinds-defense-production-act-application-to-solar-manufacturing/

# How Advanced Inverters Enhance Solar Energy Storage

As solar energy continues to gain traction, energy storage has become a vital component of grid modernization. Solar companies are now integrating advanced inverter technology to improve efficiency, reliability, and overall performance of solar storage systems.

## The Role of Inverters in Solar Energy Storage

In a solar array for home or utility-scale projects, inverters play an essential role in converting the direct current (DC) electricity from solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity used by homes, businesses, and the grid. For large-scale energy storage applications, specialized inverters help integrate battery storage effectively, ensuring energy can be stored and deployed when needed.

Recently, advancements in inverter technology have enhanced their efficiency, making them a crucial part of solar and battery energy storage systems. For instance, silicon carbide metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (SiC MOSFET) technology has enabled higher power conversion efficiency, reduced energy loss, and better grid stability.

## Why High-Efficiency Inverters Matter

Inverters that use advanced semiconductors like SiC MOSFETs allow for:

– **Higher Efficiency** – With efficiency ratings over 99%, these inverters minimize energy loss, helping improve the

Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/03/20/sma-america-releases-99-2-efficient-grid-scale-battery-storage-inverter/