Magazine Archive 09 2025

As the dusts settles from this summer’s passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, many in the US solar industry are left thinking, “it could have been worse.”

The Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) outperformed the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average in July. Jesse Pichel of Roth Capital Partners attributes this to expedited project plans as developers in the United States adapt to the accelerated removal of incentives.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a related executive order and other policy developments introduce new risks to the solar and energy storage industries in the United States. Changes to tax law affect everything from residential rooftop systems to utility-scale projects. Jesse Pichel and Lev Seleznov of Roth Capital Partners examine the key provisions in recent US policy announcements and their likely impact on the industry.

The significant shifts experienced in 2025 by solar in the United States mean the industry must renew its focus, adaptability, and resolve. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper vows to keep fighting for energy freedom and a brighter future.

The 18th Renewable Energy India Expo, co-located with the third Battery Show India, returns to the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2025. Ahead of the event, pv magazine spoke with Rajneesh Khattar, senior group director of energy and construction portfolio at Informa Markets, about India’s latest moves in solar and storage.

Despite inverter shipments being projected to grow in 2025, the mood in the industry remains tense. S&P Global’s Liam Coman sees an evolving competitive landscape increasingly dominated by Chinese suppliers. With demand shifting to markets like Saudi Arabia, India and emerging residential markets, established players may still be left chasing a slice of a shrinking pie.

Coordinated efforts to rationalize excess manufacturing capacity have pushed solar prices to multi-month highs across the Chinese supply chain, but skepticism lingers over the feasibility of such plans. Hanwei Wu of OPIS examines recent efforts to rein in oversupply in the upstream supply chain.

The United States has stepped up its use of tariffs on international trade partners, alongside the removal of many renewable energy incentives. Most imports from China are now subject to 30% tariffs and other barriers, along with further measures specific to solar products. InfoLink’s Alan Tu examines key changes in US policy and their likely impact on the domestic PV market.

Infrared drone inspections are now routine for solar projects, but post-installation electroluminescence (EL) testing remains misunderstood and underutilized, argue Jörg Althaus of Clean Energy Associates (CEA) and Andreas Fladung of Aerial PV Inspection. The pair examine EL’s ability to detect microcracks, early-stage degradation, and installation-induced damage, revealing how good planning and execution can lead to meaningful results.

Solar module prices hit a historic low in August 2025, according to data from pvXchange.com, and Martin Schachinger is calling for action. The trading platform founder sees political headwinds for solar in Europe and wants urgent deployment to ensure the industry seizes the moment by building as many PV systems and energy storage facilities as possible.