Solar and storage companies are already adjusting their domestic production plans in response to the Trump administration — and the lingering impact of Biden administration policies. One significant change? The U.S. is expected to double its number of domestic suppliers of U.S.-made cells in two years.
That’s according to the latest report from Anza, the solar and storage software platform. The research unpacks the impact of shifts in U.S. content regulations and trade policies in the first months of 2025 on the solar and storage markets.
In January, just days before the end of the Biden administration, the Internal Revenue Service updated the country’s domestic content qualifications. The changes included increasing the points for solar PV systems and U.S.-manufactured wafers specifically, essentially making it more valuable for solar buyers to go domestic. Those requirements remain in place, even as much else has changed for clean energy under President Trump.
In the first months of his second term, Trump imposed a series of tariffs that have complicated things. These include a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum, as well as reciprocal tariffs on virtually every country in the world. Each of these caused a ripple of alarm through certain segments of the industry when announced, but the latter have been paused until mid-July; ultimately, it’s the lack of clarity that has caused the most complication.
According to Anza’s report, these changes have “created pricing uncertainty for manufacturers, developers, and buyers alike, delaying procurement decisions and prompting some to re-evaluate sourcing strategies.”
Different manufacturers have responded in different ways. “Some are accelerating U.S. production timelines to take advantage of domestic content incentives and avoid tariff exposure, while others have canceled previously announced plans due to financial or logistical constraints,” the report said. As a result, domestic inventories are shrinking, prices are increasing — and projected future supplies are expected to fluctuate.
Anza anticipates that the number of suppliers of U.S.-made cells to jump from five in the first half of 2025 to 10 by the first half of 2027. However, for U.S.-assembled modules, manufacturers are being more cautious about making long-term projections amid political uncertainty; they’ve committed to establishing 20 suppliers by the first half of 2026, but the number decreases going forward.
Another impact: The gap in price between U.S.-made cells and the relatively cheaper imported cells assembled in the U.S. is widening slightly. Anza found that this is because buyers are looking to meet domestic content requirements, which only the former provide.
Meanwhile, the world of battery energy storage systems is also seeing significant growth in domestic manufacturing. “While some cancellations and delays were announced in the first few months of 2025, most tier-1 players are moving forward with their domestic manufacturing plans as anticipated,” the report reads.
As a result, the number of domestic suppliers of cells is expected to jump: from one in the first half of 2025 to 10 in the first half of 2027. The numbers of domestic module and container makers are expected to see similar, though less dramatic, increases.
However, the report noted that the BESS supply chain remains heavily reliant on China — which currently faces 145% tariffs, and is the subject of Trump’s mounting trade war. This has caused further market uncertainty.
And across the industry, the report noted, “uncertainty due to evolving universal and reciprocal tariffs will likely drive upward pricing pressure across many product segments.”
