US Invests $71M in Solar Manufacturing Innovation

• DOE invests $71 million in solar manufacturing to boost domestic production, create new markets, and accelerate commercialization of innovative technologies. IRA and tariffs support U.S. clean energy growth.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is investing $71 million in solar manufacturing projects to boost domestic production of solar energy technologies. This investment, including $16 million from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the development of technologies for silicon wafer and cell manufacturing onshore. The selected projects aim to address gaps in the domestic solar manufacturing capacity and open new markets for solar technologies, such as building-integrated PV and agrivoltaics.

The investment will enable new solar companies to prove their technologies and accelerate their path to commercialization. Additionally, the DOE has selected projects to advance dual-use PV technologies to electrify buildings, decarbonize transportation, and reduce land-use conflicts. The move comes amid tariffs on Chinese manufacturers to promote domestic manufacturing and support the growth of the U.S. solar energy supply chain.

Furthermore, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has played a significant role in funding green energy projects and incentivizing private investment in the renewable energy sector. The act aims to lower healthcare costs, adjust taxation, and support clean energy projects. By 2030, the IRA is expected to facilitate the construction of grid-scale battery facilities, wind turbines, and solar panels, contributing to the growth of clean energy capacity in the U.S. President Joe Biden has also announced tariffs on Chinese solar cells to combat overcapacity in China and protect domestic manufacturing.

How is the U.S. Department of Energy boosting domestic solar manufacturing with $71 million investment?

• The $71 million investment from the U.S. Department of Energy is aimed at boosting domestic solar manufacturing by supporting the development of technologies for silicon wafer and cell manufacturing onshore.
• $16 million of the investment comes from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will help address gaps in the domestic solar manufacturing capacity and open new markets for solar technologies.
• The selected projects will enable new solar companies to prove their technologies and accelerate their path to commercialization, while also advancing dual-use PV technologies for electrifying buildings, decarbonizing transportation, and reducing land-use conflicts.
• The investment comes at a time when tariffs on Chinese manufacturers are in place to promote domestic manufacturing and support the growth of the U.S. solar energy supply chain.
• The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has also played a significant role in funding green energy projects and incentivizing private investment in the renewable energy sector, aiming to lower healthcare costs, adjust taxation, and support clean energy projects.
• By 2030, the IRA is expected to facilitate the construction of grid-scale battery facilities, wind turbines, and solar panels, contributing to the growth of clean energy capacity in the U.S.
• President Joe Biden has announced tariffs on Chinese solar cells to combat overcapacity in China and protect domestic manufacturing, further supporting the growth of the U.S. solar energy industry.