MIPs and TRQs. The administration is going to announce a long anticipated minimum import price under the 232 polysilicon case any moment now. Here’s what you need to know. This is meant to drive up the price of all modules imported in the US above the price that domestic producers want. With enough domestic production, you should be able to buy modules well below the MIP if the competition is thorough and there is no collusion on pricing. (Different topic). Here’s what comes next, you’re likely to see two things. A flurry of supply announcements between domestic factories and IPPs that are trying to lock in production, something that solar has actually done not enough of based on the earnings announcements this week. (You know your backlog but keep buying at the market to try and save a penny but then screw up your schedule). The bigger story that few people know is that there is likely to be a TRQ, tariff rate quota that allows some domestic producers to import parts of their module based on their investment levels (or as details emerge during the announcements). This will allow some factories to have access to imported cells while building out their domestic supply chain but not be subject to all the tariffs. This is where the rush will be to lock in the supply of pre and post factory startup. More to come, get your deals done today.
FCC Part 2. It seems likely that the FCC or other agency will expand the inverter rule to BESS and BESS software. Based on what I’m hearing from the market, EMS and possibly BMS will get placed into the FCC rule and do two things. First is limit the options you have for your software systems in BESS and second is stop your ability for firmware updates of your existing sites that are using non-domestic software or data flows. This will possibly be troublesome for any updates required by the ISO/RTOs that you are operating in.
Access. Starting in September, this content will be limited to the premium SolarWakeup subscribers. The initial access will be limited to 100 subscribers so that the dialogue will be focused on what those readers need to know. We’ll be releasing that list shortly, email me if you want a heads up on that.
- Reuters: Trump administration to impose 15% tariff in polysilicon probe meant to counter China
- Bloomberg: Trump Readies Tariffs and Price Floor to Help US Polysilicon
- PV_Tech: Shoals posts record quarterly revenue of US163.4 million, returns to profitability in Q2 2026
- Utility Dive: Facing an estimated 474 GW of interconnection requests, Texas hits pause on data centers
- Canary Media: PJM’s big new data center plan: Make the states figure it out
- Energy Storage News: KKR’s ContourGlobal begins construction of ‘Sun at Night’ solar-plus-storage project in Chile
- PV-Magzine: SolarEdge swings back to operating profit in Q2 as margins hit 27.5%
Opinion
Best, Yann