Sep. 9, 2024: Solar Made in USA Conference at RE+ Anaheim, California

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has sparked a resurgence in US solar manufacturing, leading to the announcement of over 126 new or expanded solar manufacturing capacity projects across the country, creating more than 35,000 jobs and attracting over $17 billion in investments, according to the US Department of Energy. Now the first manufacturing projects are coming online, while many companies are still in the development phase. Given the highly dynamic and challenging environment for equipment manufacturers in international markets, the US market landscape offers significant opportunities and substantial untapped potential.

Hosted by TaiyangNews, EUPD Research and RE+, this Conference will provide a 360-degree view on manufacturing along the crystalline silicon value chain with emphasis on technology in solar wafer, cell and module manufacturing. The event will take place on Sept, 9, 2024 in RE+ Anaheim, California.

This will be a platform for all stakeholders active and looking into solar manufacturing in the US to create a competitive solar industry, contributing to resilience and energy security at a time the quickly expanding solar market still relies heavily on imports with minimal domestic content.

To register, please use the link to RE+ regular’ conference registration website (click here).

AGENDA

SESSION 1: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Solar Made in USA – Policy, Incentives, Cost & Technology Overview

Solar Made in USA – Policy, Incentives, Cost & Technology Overview The event will kick-off with an overview session discussing the ingrediencies available and needed for Solar Made in USA to happen on a large scale. Experts will explore the intersections of policy and technology needed to shape the future of solar manufacturing in the United States. The session includes in-depth presentations on the latest technological advancements driving the solar sector, strategies to build resilient solar supply chains, and critical economic factors influencing the competitiveness of US solar manufacturing. We will also host a panel discussion on whether the US can become the next major hub for solar manufacturing along with Q&A.

SESSION 2: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM. What’s Needed for Wafer & Cell Production in the US

Dive into the core of solar manufacturing with our session on wafer & cell production, the parts of the module value chain that are either fully missing or hardly represented in the US. You will learn detailed insights of the essential tools and technologies that drive upstream solar production. Presentations from world leading equipment and materials suppliers will cover the entire spectrum for the needs to produce the new standard TOPCon solar cells in the US. We will also explore critical topics such as metallization, the fundamental consumable in cell production, and the potential of Heterojunction Technology (HJT) solar cells towards higher efficiencies and lower LCOEs. The session will conclude with an extensive Q&A with the presenters, allowing the technological intricacies that define today’s solar production landscape.

SESSION 3: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Mastering Cost-competitive Module Manufacturing in the US

This session will focus on the critical components and machinery used in solar module manufacturing, offering insights into the latest products and production line designs adapted in solar module manufacturing today. Presentations from globally leading suppliers in module manufacturing will address the crux of turnkey module lines, cost-effective cell connection equipment, total packaging solutions aimed at safeguarding module reliability, and the role of high-quality solar glass in enhancing module performance. Each topic is designed to provide practical insights and technical knowledge, culminating in an interactive Q&A session where participants can engage directly with the experts to address specific questions and discuss industry challenges.

SESSION 4: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Opportunities & Barriers for Solar Made in USA

This session will spotlight stakeholders sharing experiences of manufacturing solar products in the US or their solar manufacturing project developments, highlighting different levels of integration. The manufacturers’ take-aways will be complemented with the views of investors and product off-takers. A final panel concluding the conference will discuss the challenges and successes of establishing and maintaining a competitive solar production footprint in the US, also based on the impacts of supply chains, incentives and trade policies.