Trade,Tech & Environment
The solar industry develops cutting-edge technology and is part of a fast-growing global marketplace. The global trade and environmental impacts of these technologies are a key element of growth and a major focus at SEIA.
Solar Energy Overview
Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. The U.S. solar market is growing rapidly as the industry scales up new innovative technologies and drives down manufacturing and installation costs. There are several ways to harness solar energy: photovoltaics, solar heating & cooling, concentrating solar power, and passive solar.
Solar Technologies
There are three primary technologies by which solar energy is commonly harnessed: photovoltaics (PV), which directly convert light to electricity; concentrating solar power (CSP), which uses heat from the sun (thermal energy) to drive utility-scale, electric turbines; and heating and cooling systems, which collect thermal energy to provide hot water and air conditioning.
Solar + Storage
Storage is playing a revolutionary role in the further advancement of solar. States with higher storage penetrations will lead an unmistakable trend in the solar industry.
The Solar + Storage Opportunity
Energy storage is beginning to play a larger role in the U.S. solar industry and energy markets as a whole. Federal, state and local policy makers are making decisions now that will dictate to what extent storage can and will be used. The U.S. energy storage industry comprises hundreds of companies and thousands of American workers that manufacture, distribute and install residential, commercial and utility-scale energy storage systems across the country.
International Trade
SEIA supports fair and free trade of solar equipment to grow the American solar industry, which is strengthening our national security and driving local and national economic growth.
SEIA's Work on Trade
As a trade association that represents 1,000 member companies across the entire solar supply chain, SEIA seeks to promote and protect the interests of the 9,000 U.S. companies engaged in the solar industry and the nearly 250,000 American workers they employ.
Get involved through SEIA's Committees and Divisions
Learn MoreEnvironment & Sustainability
Solar technologies offer a number of environmental benefits, such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and waste over fuel-based energy sources. Climate change, sustainability and recycling are all concerns of the solar industry. SEIA and our members are taking steps to ensure environmental issues are considered throughout the lifecycle of solar products.
Related News
SEIA Statement on White House Solar Tariff Proclamation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Saturday, the White House announced results for the midterm review of the Section 201 tariffs on imported solar cells and modules. Following is a statement on the proclamation by Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association:
Report: U.S. Corporate Solar Investments Swell to 8300 Megawatts, Grow 20-Fold Over Last Decade
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tech giants, major retailers and other corporate leaders are making significant investments in clean energy and installed over 1,280 megawatts (MW) of new commercial solar capacity in the United States in 2019, the second largest year on record according to the latest Solar Means Business report.
New Report Shows Steep Increase in School Solar Power Drives Savings on Energy Bills, Frees Up Resources during Pandemic
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA and WASHINGTON, D.C. — As school districts struggle to adapt to a nationwide budget crisis brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, many K-12 schools are shoring up budgets with a switch to solar power, often with minimal to no upfront capital costs.