# Unpopular solar opinions, 2022 edition

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2022-12-01
- Length: 44m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition

## Summary

Jenny Chase, former head of solar analysis at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, discusses her annual 'unpopular opinions' on the solar industry with host Shayle Khan. They analyze critical bottlenecks holding back deployment, including polysilicon supply constraints, installation labor shortages, and grid interconnection backlogs. Chase argues that current silicon technology is sufficient and expresses skepticism about the commercial viability of perovskite and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The conversation also covers the economic risks of fixed-price power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed before 2021, the potential for an unsustainable manufacturing boom in the US due to the Inflation Reduction Act, and the discrepancy between BloombergNEF's solar forecasts and the capacity needed for net-zero goals.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=4) Introduction and Solar's Current State
- [6:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=401) Supply Chain Bottlenecks: Polysilicon and Labor
- [13:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=812) Grid Access and Permitting Challenges
- [18:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=1090) Skepticism of Perovskites and Building-Integrated PV
- [23:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=1437) Risks of Pre-2021 Power Purchase Agreements
- [28:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=1726) US Manufacturing Boom and the Inflation Reduction Act
- [35:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=2138) Residential Battery Sales and Financial Modeling
- [39:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-12-01-unpopular-solar-opinions-2022-edition#t=2360) Land Availability and Solar Deployment Forecasts

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Bloomberg New Energy Finance (company)
- BloombergNEF (company)
- Inflation Reduction Act (other)
- Perovskite (material)
- Building-integrated PV (product)
- Tesla (company)
- Maya Burger (company)
- Energy Hub (company)

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## Citing this page

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