Spotlight On RE+

Kirkland Requejo, Commercial Manager Americas Solar at Mondragon Assembly, emphasized that all of the company’s equipment, IP, services, and contracts are free from Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) restrictions – allowing customers to qualify for the 45X tax credit. He also urged buyers to exercise caution when purchasing equipment or signing contracts with specified foreign entities.

Solamet Electronic Materials CTO Dr. QJ Guo told the TaiyangNews Solar – Made in the USA summit that cutting silver consumption is key to solar’s growth and affordability. He sees copper paste metallization offering a potential breakthrough in this space.

Dr. Kamel Ounadjela of LAPLACE Renewable Energy Technology pitched the company's high-efficiency n-type solar cell equipment to US manufacturers, highlighting proprietary TOPCon+ and XBC tools that enable cells to achieve over 25% efficiency. He also touted a robust IP portfolio to give confidence to US companies that are wary of investing in TOPCon due to patent challenges.

Speaking at the TaiyangNews Solar – Made in the USA summit, Dr. Radovan Kopecek, Head of Strategy at the International Solar Energy Research Center Konstanz, called on US manufacturers to broaden their solar cell technology base and embrace back contact (BC) designs. He emphasized that BC cells are well-positioned for tandem architectures – the market’s likely next stage – making early investment a smart strategy.

At the TaiyangNews Solar—Made in the USA summit, RCT Group Founder & CEO Prof. Dr. Peter Fath called for renewed investment in US solar manufacturing, Despite a challenging federal policy environment, he emphasized that now is the right time to invest. Fath also urged the industry to push for public funding to sustain research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities

At RE+’s TaiyangNews Solar—Made in the USA summit, Wood Mackenzie analyst Elissa Pierce outlined how US solar policy is reshaping the module supply chain. While the IRA spurred a sixfold rise in domestic module capacity, upstream production lags behind. AD/CVD tariffs on Southeast Asian imports—and new investigations into Laos, Indonesia and India—are further constraining supply. Pierce projected the MENA region could emerge as a key supplier, but major factories may not come online until 2026 or later, delaying US self-sufficiency. 

At the TaiyangNews Solar – Made in the USA summit, Smirnow Law Principal John Smirnow emphasized that US solar manufacturing should be treated as a 'national security imperative', tying it to both economic and energy security. He also laid stress on the need for a robust supply chain beyond just modules and warned that, as IRA incentives taper off, stronger market protection measures will become increasingly important.

At the Solar – Made in the USA summit organized by TaiyangNews and EUPD Research at RE+ 2025, the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Trade of SEIA, Stacy J. Ettinger, was positive about the growth of the country’s PV manufacturing industry. The rush during the 2-year window before ITC and PTC expire will fuel the market in the short term, and the ‘necessity’ to go solar in the long term, even under the shadow of the OBBBA. She also shared the main highlights of the SEIA-Wood Mackenzie US Solar Market Insights Q3 2025 (see US Installed 18 GW New Solar PV Capacity In H1 2025). 

At the Solar – Made in the USA summit, sponsor T1 Energy’s EVP, Russell Gold, welcomed industry leaders while unveiling the firm’s growing domestic supply chain. With a 5 GW module plant in Dallas, a 5 GW cell plant planned near Austin, and a new Corning deal to convert polysilicon into wafers next year, Gold said that the build-out is central to creating jobs, ensuring energy security and industrial leadership, powering both the AI economy and everyday households.

Energy storage specialist HiTHIUM has launched its new AI Data Center Energy Storage System (AIDC ESS) at RE+ 2025. The lineup features the ∞Power 6.25 MWh (8-hour) long-duration BESS, the ∞Power N2.28 MWh (1-hour) BESS, and a dedicated lifespan assessment model for AIDC ESS. Designed to meet real-time and high-reliability demands of data centers, the solution also enhances renewable energy utilization, which it highlighted as a step toward bringing long-duration storage to the data center sector.  

TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela opened the Solar – Made in the USA summit, co-hosted with RE+ and EUPD Research, highlighting the evolving US policy landscape amid OBBBA and global trade challenges. Addressing senior PV executives, he urged continued investment and adaptation to stay competitive. Citing a recent Ember study on 24/7 solar, Schmela noted that in Las Vegas, the full-solar LCOE is $104/MWh – 22% below last year’s global average and cheaper than coal ($118/MWh) or nuclear ($182/MWh), which in itself is a strong enough reason for continued investment in solar.

Hanersun has signed a strategic distribution deal with Fortune Energy at RE+ 2025 in Las Vegas, underscoring its push into the US market. By pairing its high-power, smart PV modules with Fortune’s nationwide distribution network, Hanersun says it aims to accelerate large-scale adoption of its high-power solar modules across the country. “Despite policy volatility and intensifying competition, we remain confident in the U.S. solar market's long-term growth,” said Hanersun’s General Manager, Michael Liu.

Microinverter specialist Enphase Energy has kicked off its RE+ showcase with the launch of the IQ9N-3P Commercial Microinverter and the IQ Gateway Commercial Pro. Built with GaN technology for 97.5% efficiency, IQ9 supports panels up to 600 W and is designed with US domestic content to comply with the Buy America Act and Build America, Buy America Act requirements. Both products are open for pre-orders via distributors, with shipments starting in December 2025. Visitors can check them out at booth F17702.

Targeting the North American market, Sungrow is showcasing its latest lineup at the show, including a 4.8 MW 2nd-generation modular inverter that blends the advantages of central and string inverters. Also on display were the PowerTitan 3.0 (6.9 MWh in a 20-foot ISO container, with a 661 Ah stacking LFP cell rated for 12,500 cycles); and the PowerStack 255CS for C&I customers, offering 257 kWh capacity with 314 Ah cells in a 2-hour system. Visit Sungrow at Booth V9451.

Trinasolar’s Vertex n-type TOPCon modules lead the company’s lineup at RE+ this year, where it is also debuting the Vertex N 2000V utility-scale module featuring a maximum power output of 620 W and 22.7% efficiency. It presented a prototype of this module at the last RE+. Another new launch is the Vertex N Shield, a dual-glass module that can withstand hailstones up to 75 mm in diameter. It is rated for a 620 W power output and 23% efficiency, according to the manufacturer. Trinasolar is also pitching its integrated Elementa energy storage system at booth V9071.

Roarke Energy, with origins in the US and India, is debuting its Terra-Float racking system at RE+, proposing a shift away from traditional steel. Designed to address key challenges of corrosion, supply chain risks, and high steel costs, Terra-Float is steel-free, corrosion-proof, and land-neutral, with components that can be produced directly at project sites, claims the team. Roarke adds that this approach could cut transport expenses by up to 70% and significantly reduce overall capital costs.

Tesla has unveiled the latest generation of its utility-scale energy storage solutions – Megapack 3 and Megablock. Megapack stores excess renewable energy and discharges it when demand peaks, supporting grid stability. Megablock is a pre-engineered 20 MWh AC medium-voltage block designed for a 25-year life and over 10,000 cycles, with 91% round-trip efficiency. At its launch event called ‘Las Megas’ at RE+, Tesla said the Megablock enables 23% faster installation, up to 40% lower construction costs, and a high site density of 248 MWh/acre. Powered by Megapack 3 with streamlined design, advanced cells delivered from the US, Southeast Asia, and China, and a 50 GWh annual capacity, deliveries start in H2 2026.

At RE+ 2025, Avaada Electro is presenting its range of n-type TOPCon solar cells and modules. The lineup includes G12, G12R, and M10L modules, all IEC, UL, and ISO certified. Designed for utility-scale, C&I, and rooftop applications, the products come from the Indian manufacturer’s 8.5 GW module capacity spread across Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Avaada is located at Booth V13804.

India’s GREW Solar has chosen RE+ 2025 to unveil its next-gen ALL BLACK module series, built on TOPCon cell technology for residential rooftops. The company is also introducing two glass-to-glass (G2G) product lines—M10 series (up to 590W) and G12R High-Power series (up to 635W)—both engineered for North American compliance. Aimed at utility-scale, C&I applications, these TOPCon modules come with 30-year performance warranties.

Despite the challenging geopolitical backdrop between the US and India, Indian solar manufacturers are turning up in numbers at RE+ 2025. From Goldi Solar and Adani Solar to Avaada Electro, Saatvik Solar, GREW Solar, Credence Solar, Alpex Solar, and others – the wave of announcements underlines just how attractive the US market remains.

Nextracker has expanded its area of expertise with the acquisition of Origami Solar, the roll-formed steel frame manufacturer. The all-cash transaction worth $53 million represents the manufacturer’s efforts to lock in local sourcing of steel for its trackers in the wake of the US imposing heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. “And with an estimated total addressable market (TAM) in excess of $750 million in the U.S. alone, we see this as a substantial new business opportunity for Nextracker,” adds Nextracker Founder and CEO Dan Shugar.

Leading global tracker manufacturer Nextracker has unveiled its NX PowerMerge trunk connector, a new DC power connector designed to streamline eBOS (electrical balance of systems) installation. Nextracker says this connector is especially targeted at high-voltage, high-density solar arrays. It offers a robust, 2kV-ready solution for PV string-to-trunk bus connections, according to Nextracker. It also marks the first eBOS product in its portfolio since Nextracker’s acquisition of Bentek. Catch Nextracker at booth V9223.

US manufacturer Mission Solar is presenting a new range of modules. Its 435 W n-type 108HC rooftop panel reaches 22.8% efficiency, carries 6.2% domestic content, and avoids AD/CVD tariffs while meeting US sourcing requirements, says the manufacturer. Beyond rooftops, Mission’s lineup extends to C&I and utility markets, featuring both n-type and PERC technologies. Mission Solar is at booth V8645.

At RE+, Canadian Solar launched its Low Carbon (LC) modules featuring HJT cells with wafer innovations. Delivering up to 660 W and 24.4% efficiency, the modules are claimed to have a carbon footprint of 285 kg CO₂eq/kW – among the lowest globally for silicon-based modules. Proprietary tech across ingot, wafer, and cell processes drives the breakthrough. Visit booth V10031 to learn more about these modules.

Solar PV manufacturer Bila Solar will debut a US-made steel frame module at RE+ 2025, built with Origami Solar’s frame and using domestic solar cells. The company claims the new 550 W dual-glass design increases local content, improves tax credit eligibility, and adds supply chain security to help developers manage tariffs and price swings. Visitors can view the module at Booth V14131, Venetian Level 2. (Photo Credit: Bila Solar) 

SMA Bets on US Manufacturing
German inverter major SMA Solar is making a comeback to US production after nearly a decade. The company has teamed up with Create Energy, with plans to kick off US-made string inverter manufacturing at Create’s Tennessee flagship plant starting in Q1 2026. With RE+ 2025 buzzing in Las Vegas, this may just be the first of many big announcements to watch out for. (Photo Credit: SMA Solar) 

Navigate the policy headwinds under the OBBBA with industry experts, analysts, and associations leading discussions on critical growth topics for the US solar industry: solar and storage, local supply chains, sourcing, reliability, system value, FEOC, and tax credit challenges, during latter half of the Solar—Made in the USA Summit.  

Catch this power-packed session with the very executives practically shaping US solar manufacturing – Talon PV CEO Adam Tesanovich, ES Foundry CEO Alex Zhu, SEG Solar CEO Jim Wood, Suniva President and COO Matt Card, Heliene President Martin Pochtaruk, RCT Solutions CEO Prof. Dr. Peter Fath, and Hemlock Semiconductor Senior VP Commercial Phil Rausch – in conversation with TaiyangNews MD Michael Schmela and CEA Senior Policy Analyst Christian Roselund at the Solar – Made in the USA Summit.

US solar manufacturing is expanding in modules, but moving upstream still depends on access to key equipment and materials. As US policies seek to counter the influence of China, the world’s largest solar market, how can the country push further? Experts from RCT Solutions, ISC Konstanz, LAPLACE, Solamet Electronic Material, and Mondragon Assembly will weigh in on strategies to navigate these challenges during Session 2 at the Solar – Made in the USA Summit. 

SEIA’s Stacy J. Ettinger and Wood Mackenzie’s Elissa Pierce will join John Smirnow of Smirnow Law and ACP’s MJ Shiao at the Solar – Made in the USA Summit. Catch the session as they explore ways to support the US solar manufacturing comeback despite tough policy challenges, in a panel discussion with TaiyangNews’ Michael Schmela and CEA’s Christian Roselund. 

The TaiyangNews summit, with its focus on the US solar and storage market and manufacturing, follows a turbulent time for these industries with the gradual dismantling of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the wake of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Operating under a shadow of uncertainty, the country saw its H1 2025 solar installations dropping by over 15% YoY, according to the SEIA and Wood Mackenzie's latest report titled US Solar Market Insight Q3 2025 Report. Even as the country added 4.3 GW of new module capacity in Q2, there were no upstream additions (see US Installed 18 GW New Solar PV Capacity In H1 2025).