Trade,Technology & Manufacturing
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 focus at SEIA, along with efforts to ramp up and build a robust solar supply chain here at home, increasing domestic manufacturing capacity and U.S. jobs.
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.
Domestic Manufacturing
There are multiple benefits to growing domestic renewable energy manufacturing, including creating jobs, spurring economic development, promoting U.S. leadership in advanced technologies and innovation, and ensuring an ethical and sustainable solar supply chain. Manufacturing investment also presents an opportunity for cost reduction and can also enable the U.S. to accelerate deployment and meet long-term climate goals.
A U.S. Clean Energy Manufacturing Renaissance
In parallel with SEIA’s goal of solar comprising 30% of the U.S. electricity mix by 2030, we have also set a target of 100 GW of renewable energy manufacturing capacity, including 50 GW of solar manufacturing production, by 2030. This 100 GW target is designed to increase the U.S.’s ability to supply not only domestic solar energy projects but also export markets.
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 more than 230,000 American workers they employ.
Get involved through SEIA's Committees and Divisions
Learn MoreSolar + 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.
Cybersecurity
Solar and storage technologies play a critical role in ensuring U.S. energy independence and national security. Cybersecurity has become a top priority for the industry as clean energy is deployed on the grid in record-breaking numbers every year. SEIA is collaborating with industry stakeholders and security experts to prepare for domestic and foreign cybersecurity threats to ensure that solar and storage remain reliable and safe energy resources as we transition to a clean energy economy.
Clean Energy & Cybersecurity
Solar and storage play a critical role in ensuring U.S. energy independence and national security. SEIA is at the forefront of strengthening the solar industry’s resilience to cybersecurity threats.
Related News
From Policy to Prosperity: Solar is Supercharging American Communities After One Year of Energy Incentives
Just twelve months after the Inflation Reduction Act became law, the solar and storage industry is quickly becoming a cornerstone of America’s energy economy.
Made in America: The Solar Manufacturing Renaissance is Here
These new factories and facilities are creating well-paying jobs throughout the country and enhancing American competitiveness around the globe.
U.S Solar Market Registers Best First Quarter in Industry History as Supply Chains Stabilize and Inflation Reduction Act Takes Hold
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. solar industry installed 6.1 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity and had its best first quarter in history, according to the US Solar Market Insight Q2 2023 report released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.