{"id":76647,"date":"2017-07-31T08:35:47","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T12:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/\/?p=76647"},"modified":"2018-08-22T10:50:54","modified_gmt":"2018-08-22T14:50:54","slug":"u-s-solar-panel-manufacturing-not-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/\/2017\/07\/u-s-solar-panel-manufacturing-not-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. solar panel manufacturing is not dead"},"content":{"rendered":"

See a list of where solar panels are assembled here<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span>
\nSee the latest coverage of the February 2018-initiated solar panel tariffs here<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When Suniva announced its shutdown earlier this year, many proclaimed the U.S.-manufactured panel industry as dead. \u201cNot so fast,\u201d said SolarWorld Americas, the largest U.S. crystalline-silicon solar manufacturer for the last 40 years, until its Germany parent company filed for insolvency one month later. The American division says it will still carry on<\/a> with a few less employees, but the PR damage to the market had been tremendous.<\/p>\n

Now add in the Suniva and SolarWorld-sponsored petition for trade tariffs <\/a>on foreign panels. The petition asks the U.S. government to set a minimum price of 78 cents per watt on foreign panels, which is 17 cents more than the current average panel price in the United States. If the petition passes, SEIA estimates that the U.S. solar industry would lose 88,000 jobs<\/a>\u2014one-third of the current American solar workforce. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will make its decision on the case by Sept. 22, 2017, and developers, panel buyers and foreign panel manufacturers hold their breath in the meantime.<\/p>\n

Just because two of the biggest U.S. panel manufacturers have hit some roadblocks doesn\u2019t mean that the whole market is caving in. There are many companies waving the \u201cMade in USA\u201d banner and a few Canadian manufacturers ready to pick up the slack if \u201cMade in North America\u201d becomes the better default. Although many crystalline-silicon panel manufacturers operate as \u201cboutique solar providers\u201d (either in capacity size or through premium product), there are companies out there to fill domestic orders. And U.S. thin-film manufacturers are waiting on the sidelines to swing traditionally crystalline customers to their side.<\/p>\n

Some U.S. and Canadian solar panel manufacturers described how things have changed in the six short months since Suniva\u2019s exit, and they expressed whether they have the capacity or the desire to take on the need for U.S. and\/or North American solar modules (all signs point to yes).<\/p>\n

Solaria –\u00a0Fremont, California<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Solaria <\/a>produces its PowerXT line of high-efficiency modules on assembly lines in Silicon Valley and also in Asia. The company announced in June<\/a> that it plans to expand its California manufacturing capacity to more than 40 MW per year by the end of 2017, a decision that was not influenced by Suniva\u2019s exit from the market.<\/p>\n

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Solaria PowerXT module<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt was always Solaria\u2019s intention to ramp up manufacturing in Silicon Valley,\u201d said Solaria CEO Suvi Sharma. \u201cSolaria has been\u2014and remains\u2014committed to the U.S. market.\u201d<\/p>\n

In total, Solaria should reach 100-MW capacity this year and will add more in 2018 to meet increased customer demand. This ramp-up has drawn more interest to the company.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a number of distributors, installers and homeowners who\u2019ve been interested in the fact that we\u2019ve ramped up our manufacturing in the United States,\u201d Sharma said. \u201cCustomers are extremely receptive and appreciative of the Solaria PowerXT modules, designed and produced with American innovation and ingenuity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sharma said the trade case is a unique battleground in the United States. Solaria is invested in encouraging U.S. manufacturing and preventing international dominance, but at what cost?<\/p>\n

\u201cAccelerated global solar module manufacturing and innovation is vital to confronting the challenges posed by climate change,\u201d Sharma said. \u201cWe\u2019re keenly interested in boosting American PV manufacturing here at home, and that\u2019s why we\u2019ve ramped up our production capacity. Yet, we\u2019re also concerned that placing tariffs on international imports could thwart the tremendous job growth we\u2019ve been seeing in the U.S. solar sector.\u201d<\/p>\n

SolarTech Universal –\u00a0Riviera Beach, Florida<\/h3>\n

SolarTech Universal<\/a> manufactures 60-cell monocrystalline modules with Meyer Burger\u2019s SmartWire Technology out of its primary facility in Southern Florida. The company, in production for two years<\/a>, also has a PERC line and is working on black-on-black modules. SolarTech is open to the public and often gives tours of the facility, something that marketing associate Caty Weihl said increases interest in the newer brand.<\/p>\n

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A SolarTech Universal solar panel<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe love giving tours of our facility so customers can see for themselves how much care we put into each panel,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a level of service, transparency and value not found anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

SolarTech has focused on producing a premium solar panel, more so than taking advantage of an open U.S. market.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur customers tend to be those with discreet tastes, who find value in premium, quality, U.S.-made products,\u201d Weihl said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have the same \u2018race to the bottom\u2019 mentality held by others in the industry. We keep our price competitive, but we also see the value in spending a little more on materials to show customers a lot more value.\u201d<\/p>\n

With those blinders on, SolarTech will continue to function as planned this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very excited to get our new black-on-black module into production,\u201d Weihl said. \u201cWe are planning to add additional shifts, creating dozens of jobs, to keep up with the demand. We are most proud of our ability to provide well-paying, highly skilled jobs in our community. The majority of our 40+ employees were hired from the surrounding area and specially trained to fill their position. Without the work they do, our product would not be what it is today. It is with them in mind that we strongly oppose additional tariffs to solar products.\u201d<\/p>\n