Interchange Recharged

Uncertainty isn’t good for domestic solar manufacturing. How are suppliers and utilities managing it?

Mar 25, 2025

Mike Hall, CEO and co-founder of Anza Renewables, offers insights into the solar industry's future amidst uncertainty. He discusses the projected 26 GW solar capacity increase and the impact of shifting federal tax credits. Hall reveals how supply chains are diversifying to adapt, though China's dominance persists. He also tackles Trump’s tariffs on manufacturing and the financial incentives aiding developers. The conversation underscores the need for strategic planning in an unpredictable landscape, highlighting innovative procurement approaches.

21:47

Episode guests

Mike Hall

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Quick takeaways

Uncertainty surrounding federal tax credits and trade policies poses significant risks for solar project investors and developers.

Despite the dominance of Chinese manufacturers, the U.S. solar industry is shifting towards blending domestic and imported solutions to adapt to new incentives.

Deep dives

The Growing Landscape of Solar and Storage

The solar and storage markets have experienced unprecedented growth, driven by an increasing demand for power and the transition towards clean energy solutions. The past decade has seen a significant rise in solar installation, yet uncertainties regarding policy and market dynamics loom large. Despite this, the outlook remains optimistic, with expectations of continuous load growth fueled by advancements in technology and electrification of various sectors. However, challenges such as permitting, interconnection queues, and policy inconsistencies could hinder the seamless expansion of these markets.

Intro

2min

Navigating the Solar Supply Chain: Opportunities and Challenges

2min

Navigating the Solar Manufacturing Landscape

13min

Navigating Solar Supply Challenges: Risk and Value in Procurement

2min

The Evolving Landscape of Solar Manufacturing: U.S. vs. China

3min

The US is projected to add an additional 26 GW of solar capacity in 2025. Solar has been one of the energy transition’s biggest success stories, but there are dark clouds gathering. Uncertainty is the biggest barrier to deployment at the moment: there’s potential changes coming with federal tax credits and trade policies (some of which are already having an impact), and the perceived risks are high for investors of solar projects.

To find out how developers and manufacturers are mitigating these risks, Sylvia Leyva Martinez, principal analyst covering solar markets at Wood Mackenzie, is joined by Mike Hall, CEO of Anza Renewables. Mike talks through the data he’s analysing; Anza is seeing supply chains diversify and financial incentives like the ITC Adder helping developers.

Despite efforts to bolster domestic manufacturing, China continues to dominate the global solar market. What are the impacts of Trump’s tariffs on domestic manufacturing? With a quarter of the year already gone, what have we seen in solar investment? How can long-term planning be done when so much is up in the air?

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Interchange Recharged

Uncertainty isn’t good for domestic solar manufacturing. How are suppliers and utilities managing it?

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Growing Landscape of Solar and Storage

Domestic Manufacturing Trends

Navigating Policy Uncertainty and Risks

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts