To ascertain the availability of domestically manufactured solar modules and components, and to encourage federal procurement of PV panels, the US General Services Administration (GSA) has issued a request for information (RFI) with an aim to support domestic solar manufacturing.
GSA will collate information received to develop a procurement strategy for the administration, potentially including a standard for use in future solicitations where the use of PV panels and components are required.
"Today's action seeking input from industry is a prime example of how we're harnessing federal buying power to catalyze clean energy innovation and spur domestic manufacturing," said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan.
Even as it maintained that the RFI is for general fact-gathering purposes, GSA added that is also being issued in anticipation of future projects that may be funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the impacts of this initiative on underserved or disadvantaged communities.
The RFI is inviting information from domestic commercial PV panel and system component manufacturers and resellers, PV panel purchasers and installers along with renewable electricity providers including small businesses.
It will also enable GSA to learn the use of these panels and components in contracts as power purchase agreements (PPA), energy savings performance contracts (ESPC), utility energy service contracts (UESC), solar array development contracts and other acquisition vehicles, depending on future need.
"The expansion of our domestic manufacturing capability, incentivized by the Inflation Reduction Act and further supported by government procurement, will result in lower energy costs for all, increase the resilience of our power grid, create good-paying jobs at home, and help prevent further worsening of the climate crisis," stated US Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock.
GSA issued the RFI on September 19, 2022 and will accept responses by November 18, 2022. Details are available on the US government's Federal Register website.
Solar power, produced with domestically manufactured components, is central to the US meeting its 100% decarbonized grid target by 2035 with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimating the country needing over 2 TW wind and solar to get there (see US Needs 90 GW Solar & 150 GW Wind/Year By 2035).