The introduction of new US duties on imports from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand of products for photovoltaic systems will lead to increased costs, job losses and a decrease in the number of solar installations.
The Association of Solar Energy Producers called the increase in tariffs a threat to the industry. According to Bloomberg, a group of American companies warned that the duties that the US Department of Commerce wants to introduce will harm the industry.
According to the Association of Solar Energy Producers, new tariffs on imports from Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand will lead to increased costs, job losses and a reduction in the number of solar installations by almost a third compared to forecasts for 2022-2023. From these countries, 80 percent of products for photovoltaic systems are supplied to the United States.
"This is the most serious threat to our industry that I have faced in the last 12 years," said Marcus Wilhelm, CEO of Strata Clean Energy. He added that the duties are going to be introduced at a time when the solar industry has already suffered from higher costs for raw materials and transportation.
According to BNEF analyst Tara Narayanan, duties will not destroy the industry, but will make products more expensive for buyers. Swinerton Renewable Energy President George Hershman said that some of the largest solar energy producers will not supply their goods due to the prospect of new tariffs, but he did not name specific companies.
Reducing the production of solar installations may harm the plans of US President Joe Biden. His administration is facing an urgent issue of improving the environmental situation, which largely depends on the growth of the share of solar panels in the market. A study by the US Department of Energy showed that by 2035, solar installations will be able to generate 40 percent of the country's electricity. At the same time, the number of panels in the United States has increased largely due to lower production costs.
