# Building out a U.S. solar supply chain

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Length: 44m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain

## Summary

Ethan Zindler, head of Americas at BloombergNEF, discusses the complex state of the U.S. solar industry, highlighting the massive tailwinds from the Inflation Reduction Act's manufacturing and project incentives alongside persistent bottlenecks like interconnection queues and transformer shortages. He details the saga of tariffs on Southeast Asian solar imports, noting the White House's suspension of punitive duties until late 2024, and explains how global supply chain pressures have eased, driving module prices down to around 20 cents per watt. Zindler argues that while U.S. manufacturing incentives are generous, the primary constraint on reaching the REPEAT Project's target of 100 gigawatts of annual installation is grid interconnection, not cost, as domestic production struggles to compete with low-cost, innovative manufacturing in Southeast Asia.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=2) Introduction: Catalyst and the State of U.S. Solar
- [5:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=318) IRA Incentives: ITC, PTC, and Domestic Content Bonuses
- [11:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=700) The Interconnection Bottleneck: Grid Access vs. Cost
- [13:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=807) Manufacturing Incentives and First Solar's Position
- [17:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=1034) The Tariff Saga: Oxen Solar Complaint and Southeast Asia
- [23:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=1426) U.S. Manufacturing vs. Southeast Asian Competition
- [29:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=1758) Supply Chain Normalization and Module Price Drops
- [37:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-06-22-building-out-a-u-s-solar-supply-chain#t=2257) Transformer Shortages and Future Solar Cost Trajectory

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- BloombergNEF (company)
- First Solar (company)
- Oxen Solar (company)
- Inflation Reduction Act (other)
- REPEAT Project (other)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [124: Tariff Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2025-05-08-124-tariff-talk) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Solar Cells, SparkFun, TSMC - The Detroit Debunking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-01-05-solar-cells-sparkfun-tsmc-the-detroit-debunking) (The Amp Hour)
- [Lessons from China: Competing on Innovation, Energy and Agility w/ Drew Allen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-06-10-lessons-from-china-competing-on-innovation-energy-and-agility-w-drew-allen) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Like a steam engine in your house](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-04-15-like-a-steam-engine-in-your-house) (The Amp Hour)
- [Beware of the Overachievers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-08-07-beware-of-the-overachievers) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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