Long-term policy visibility
More predictable incentive timelines can help manufacturers evaluate large-scale investments and their expected returns.
In the Global Press · pv magazine · January 10, 2023
How the Inflation Reduction Act Helped Shape Philadelphia Solar’s U.S. Investment Vision
In an opinion article published by pv magazine, Philadelphia Solar Chief Commercial Officer Mohammad Shehadeh discussed how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) reshaped the company’s assessment of domestic solar manufacturing in the United States.
PHILADELPHIA SOLAR · UNITED STATES
From imports to local manufacturingLonger-term incentivesGreater investment clarity
A long-term manufacturing outlook
An opinion article by Mohammad Shehadeh, published in pv magazine on January 10, 2023. This page is an original editorial overview, not a reproduction of the magazine article.
The decision in context
Why the U.S. market became a different manufacturing opportunity
The United States had long been a significant target market for solar module suppliers. For Philadelphia Solar, the opportunity extended beyond exporting products to considering manufacturing capacity on American soil.
The article recounts an earlier manufacturing initiative considered in Texas in 2020. The company subsequently reconsidered the investment amid shifting trade conditions for imported bifacial modules, which complicated long-term competitiveness and investment returns.
As presented in the 2023 article, the IRA introduced a longer planning horizon for clean-energy and manufacturing incentives, giving manufacturers more clarity when evaluating capital-intensive domestic production.
Key takeaways
Three themes behind the investment rationale
Building U.S. manufacturing
The author argued that strengthening domestic module production could support more resilient supply chains and energy independence.
Balancing incentives and costs
The article also highlighted import duties on raw materials and narrow manufacturing margins as continuing challenges.
A 2023 outlook
Two routes to serve the American solar market
The article described collaboration with Translucent Energy to meet near-term demand using modules produced in the Middle East, alongside plans to develop U.S. manufacturing under the Philadelphia Solar USA name. At the time, the company targeted U.S.-made mono-PERC module supply in 2024 and a transition toward higher-efficiency technologies thereafter.
These were plans discussed in January 2023. Their inclusion here does not confirm that the facilities were completed or that the original timelines were achieved.
At the source
Read on pv magazine ↗Read the full perspective on pv magazine
For Mohammad Shehadeh’s full discussion of the IRA, trade policy, and the manufacturing outlook as described in 2023, visit the original article on pv magazine.