Solar Made in the USA: Challenges, Future Scenarios, and Opportunities for PV + Storage Manufacturing & Strategies Under OBBB
Date: Monday, September 8
Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Venetian Las Vegas, Palazzo Ballroom EF
The second edition of the Solar Made in the USA conference, co-organized by EUPD, RE+, TaiyangNews, returns to offer a premier platform for stakeholders across the U.S. solar manufacturing value chain. Unlike the 2024 Solar Made In USA event, this year’s conferece is structured in two focused segments: the morning session explores the state and evolution of U.S. PV manufacturing, while the afternoon session addresses the entire solar system as well as quality and reliability in a rapidly changing policy and market environment.
In 2024, the U.S. solar industry was optimistic, buoyed by new fab announcements and favorable legislation. But in 2025, the landscape has shifted. A very different new policy framework under OBBB, global trade tensions, and a maturing domestic market pose very fundamental questions:
- What’s the future for U.S. solar and storage manufacturing?
- How can manufacturers thrive amid uncertainty?
- What are the mid- and long-term business opportunities?
- How can U.S. manufacturers compete on technology, quality, reliability, and cost?
- And how can industry leaders collaborate to help building a resilient, globally competitive manufacturing sector in the long-run?
This conference aims to answer these questions through in-depth discussions, expert insights, and collaborative strategy-building in an ever-changing environment.
Hosted by:
Why attend?
This is beyond a conventional conference—it is a collaborative strategy summit for companies shaping the future of solar manufacturing in the U.S. Whether you are a PV / storage manufacturer, supplier, investor, off taker or policymaker, this is where you will:
- Network with peers in US PV + Energy Storage manufacturing
- Gain strategic clarity on new business & regulatory environment, and technology developments
- Explore mid- and long-term business scenarios in a very challenging new business enviroment
Morning Session (8:00 AM – 12:00 PM):
U.S. PV Silicon-to-Module Manufacturing 2.0: Navigating the New Business Environment
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of U.S. solar manufacturing—from silicon to module—featuring input from manufacturers, supply chain leaders, policymakers, and analysts. We’ll assess how companies are adapting to a complex new environment and explore where new opportunities lie.
Key Elements:
- 360° Market Analysis – Presentations from diverse stakeholders assessing the current business landscape for U.S. PV manufacturers
- Executive Roundtable: “Quo Vadis?” – Industry leaders, including key US manufacturers, discuss strategies for navigating the evolving manufacturing climate
- Technology Toolbox – What technologies are needed now to compete and scale in a policy-shifting, cost-sensitive world. Leading researchers, equipment and material suppliers share the latest update on solar manufacturing technologies
- Scenario Discussion – Interactive session focused on identifying viable business paths amid policy and market uncertainty
Afternoon Session (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM):
Building Resilience in the U.S. Solar + Energy Storage Value Chain
This four-hour interactive session explores how the U.S. solar and storage industries—including BOS providers, tracking manufacturers, and other critical stakeholders—can strengthen resilience across the full value chain amid rising uncertainty. From permitting delays and inflation to labor shortages and shifting policies, today’s pressures demand more agile, collaborative, and regionally responsive approaches. Participants will engage in strategic analysis, peer learning, and hands-on labs to develop practical tools and frameworks for navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.
Key Elements:
- Value Chain Mapping– Strategic overview of U.S. battery storage and BOS component manufacturing, integration, and supply chain outlook
- Expert Panel: Supply & Performance– Manufacturers, testing experts, and energy buyers share insights on sourcing strategies, quality assurance, and long-term system performance
- Strategy Labs– Peer learning session to co-design resilience frameworks, explore partnership models, and test go-to-market approaches
- Resilience Outcomes– Participants leave with practical tools, new business partnerships, and adaptive strategies to reduce risk and improve system stability
Schedule (as of 9/05/2024)
Session 1: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Solar Made in USA – Policy, Incentive, Cost & Technology Overview
| Time | Presentation Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 am - 9:05 am | Welcome & Introduction | Michael Schmela, Managing Director, TaiyangNews |  |
| 9:05 am - 9:15 am | Solar Technology Developments | Dr. Radovan Kopecek, Head of Department Strategy & Education, Member of Executive Committee |  |
| 9:15 am - 9:30 am | Roadmap for Resilent Silicon Solar Supply Chains | Dr. Paul Basore, Chief Solar Scientist, Department of Energy |  |
| 9:30 am - 9:45 am | What the U.S. Solar Industry Needs to Meet U.S. Climate Goals | Stacy J. Ettinger, SVP Supply Chain & Trade, SEIA |  |
| 9:45 am - 10:00 am | Cost Competitiveness of U.S. Solar Manufacturing | Prof. Peter Fath, CEO, RCT Solutions |  |
| 10:00 am - 10:30 am | Panel: Is the U.S. Set to Become the Next Big Global Solar Manufacturing Hub? | ||
Coffee Networking – 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Session 2: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Ingot / Wafer / Cell Production Equipment & Materials
| Time | Presentation Title | Speaker | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 am - 11:15 am | Critical Technologies for PV Ingot & Wafer Production | Dr. Zhixin Li, CEO & CTO, Linton Technologies Group |  | ||||
| 11:15 am - 11:30 am | TOPCon Cell Production Turnkey Lines for the U.S. | Prof. Jerry Liao, PV Division CTO, Leadmicro |  | ||||
| 11:30 am - 11:45 am | Metallization: The Key Consumable Driving Solar Cell Production | QJ Guo, CTO, Solamet Electronic Materials |  | ||||
| 11:45 am - 12:00 am | Towards Higher Efficiencies & Lower LCOEs - Opting for HJT Cell Technology | Dr. Sebastian Gatz, VP Photovoltaics, Von Ardenne |  | ||||
| 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm | Panel: How to Speed Up Ingot/Wafer & Cell Production Projects? | - Todd Templeton, Regional Director of America, Norsun - Terry Jester, Chairman of the Board, Highland Materials / Managing Director, Kiwa PI Berlin; - Alex Akar, CEO, American Ingots - Adam Tesanovich, CEO, Talon PV |  | ||||
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Networking Lunch – 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Session 3: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Module Production Equipment & Materials
| Time | Presentation Title | Speaker | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:30 pm - 1:45 pm | Solutions for Turnkey Solar Module Assembly Lines | Martin Ma, Sales Director, ConfirmWare Technology |  | |||
| 1:45 pm - 2:00 pm | PV Module Manufacturing Integrated Solutions | Paulo Rocha, International Sales Director, Autowell |  | |||
| 2:00 pm - 2:15 pm | Comprehensive Packaging Solutions for Solar Modules: A Complete Overview | Steve Akey, Sales Director of NA Market, Hangzhou First |  | |||
| 2:15 pm - 2:30 pm | Fully Automatic European Turnkey Lines for PV panels | Laura Sartore, Managing Director, Ecoprogetti |  | |||
| 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm | Panel: What 's Still Needed to Build A True Local Crystalline Module Supply Chain | - Jim Wood, CEO, SEG Solar - Nadeem Haque, CTO, Heliene - Hitesh Doshi, Chariman, Waaree Technologies |  | |||
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Coffee Networking – 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Session 4: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Opportunities & Barriers for Solar Made in U.S.
| Time | Presentation Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:30 pm - 3:45 pm | Deep Dive Assessment of Top Solar States & Inflation Reduction Act Outcomes | Markus, A.W. Hoehner, President & CEO, EUPD Research |  |
| 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm | Theory & Reality: Successfully Establishing Cell & Module Production Fabs in the U.S. | Thomas Koerner, Corporate Sr. Vice President, Canadian Solar |  |
| 4:00 pm - 4:15 pm | Navigating the Green Deal: IRA Launch Successes, Challenges, and Future Scenarios | John Smirnow, Principal, Smirnow Law |  |
| 4:15 pm - 4:30 pm | Supply Chain Issues for the U.S. Solar Manufacturing Industry | Elissa Pierce, Solar Module Supply Chain Analyst, Wood Mackenzie |  |
| 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Panel Kick-off: Opportunities & Barriers for Solar Made in U.S. | Phil Shen, Managing Director, Roth Capital |  |
