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A series of recent announcements from manufacturers signals a significant shift in the American solar sector: a surge in domestic solar manufacturing is currently unfolding. This development marks a pivotal moment for energy security, job creation, and will guarantee a steady supply of solar equipment for the growing U.S. solar and storage industry, as it transitions from representing nearly 5% of the nation’s electricity mix to becoming a foundational component of America’s energy provision.

Numerous companies across the solar supply chain have already unveiled over 40 domestic manufacturing declarations exceeding $13 billion in value. Presently, these companies have disclosed plans for 47 gigawatts (GW) of module manufacturing capacity and well over 100 gigawatt-hours of battery manufacturing. When considering solar components, power electronics, and battery storage, the solar and storage supply chain in the United States is poised to incorporate more than 437 GW/GWh of additional manufacturing capacity, pending the realization of proposed announcements and expansions.

In the past seven months, there has been a surge of significant module manufacturing declarations. For instance, companies like Mission Solar have recently revealed plans to invest in domestic solar module manufacturing capacities within the United States.

With the expansion of domestic module manufacturing, the need for American-produced upstream components such as cells, wafers, and ingots will also increase. Enel, Qcells, and Silfab have already declared initiatives to produce solar cells in the United States, while manufacturers of ingot wafers are also preparing to establish domestic production capacities.

Comparable initiatives are in progress to develop essential components for utility-scale and rooftop solar setups, including inverters and trackers. Enphase, a leading inverter manufacturer, is advancing its U.S. manufacturing operations, while tracker manufacturers such as Nextracker, OMCO, and Alpha Steel are gearing up for increased growth with the expansion of panel production.

The recent surge in manufacturing announcements signifies increased job prospects for American workers. Manufacturing boasts the highest job multiplier in the U.S. economy. Each factory job leads to the creation of additional employment opportunities across various sectors, including sales, marketing, accounting, human resources, warehousing, logistics, and beyond. Moreover, the establishment of new factories contributes to the revitalization of local economies, attracting a fresh customer base for restaurants and small businesses.