The Solar Empire Strikes Back! - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights a challenging period for the U.S. solar industry, marked by a somber mood at the recent US Renewable Energy Market conference. Industry leaders and investors agree that solar is entering a consolidation phase where smaller developers unable to secure capital may need to restructure or sell projects. This downturn is attributed to the current U.S. administration’s rollback of renewable energy incentives and increased support for fossil fuels, which has caused significant setbacks, as noted by SEIA CEO Abby Ross Hopper. Despite these challenges, the solar sector remains optimistic due to strong market demand driven by the need for affordable, quickly deployable electricity, especially to power AI data centers. Advances in battery technology are also helping to address concerns about solar’s intermittent supply, and there is a growing trend toward domesticizing the solar supply chain and manufacturing in the U.S. The article also contrasts the U.S. situation with China’s aggressive expansion in green technology manufacturing. Citing a Johns Hopkins report, it notes that Chinese firms