US solar deployment falls due to trade restrictions, supply bottlenecks

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
US residential solar deployment numbers increased for the sixth quarter in a row. Image: SunPower.

The US installed 4.6GW of solar capacity during Q3 2022, a 17% decrease from the same period last year, as trade barriers and supply chain constraints continue to hamper deployment, according to research from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.

Since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act came into effect on 21 June 2022, the US solar industry has faced module shipment delays that have limited the deployment of solar PV in the country, which is expected to continue until the second half of 2023, according to Wood Mackenzie.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Despite that and for the sixth quarter in a row residential solar increased its deployment, while recording its best quarter ever with a 43% increase – the only segment to have had an increase over the previous quarter – over Q3 2021.

California made up 36% of total installs as installers push to sell residential solar before the vote on the net energy metering proposal in California on 15 December. For the first time, California installed more than 500MW in the residential segment, with 571MW in Q3 2022, while 19 states set quarterly records in the third quarter of 2022.

The continued strength of residential solar comes from customers’ interest in energy independence and the increasing retail power prices across the US.

The supply chain constraints, along with project delays, have affected utility-scale solar the most which is down 36% from Q3 2021 and deployed 2.5GW of solar capacity during Q3 2022.

“The solar and storage industry is acting decisively to build an ethical supply chain, but unnecessary supply bottlenecks and trade restrictions are preventing manufacturers from getting the equipment they need to invest in US facilities. In the aftermath of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), we cannot afford to waste time tinkering with trade laws as the climate threat looms,” said SEIA CEO, Abigail Ross Hopper.

“tuIn the non-residential segment, 340MW of commercial solar was added, up 3% from Q3 2021, while 212MW of community solar was deployed, a 17% decrease.

During Q3 2022 solar accounted for 45% of all new electricity capacity added to the US grid, more than any other technology.

Furthermore, due to the continued impact of supply chain constraints, solar installations for 2022 are expected to reach 18.6GW, a 23% decrease from 2021 with utility-scale (10.3GW) expected to decline 40% from the previous year.

The US will have to wait until 2024 before being able to feel the impact of the IRA, with an annual growth forecast of 21% on average across all solar segments from 2023-2027, according to Wood Mackenzie.

Read Next

August 27, 2025
Long-term procurement decisions from the US solar industry could support US solar manufacturing, regardless of changes to federal tax credits, PV Tech has heard.
August 20, 2025
Italy’s cumulative solar installations have exceeded 40GW, with more than two million solar systems now in operation in the country.
August 18, 2025
US solar industry representatives have voiced concern at the US Treasury Department’s new “start of construction” rules for large projects.
August 18, 2025
Maxeon shipped just 153.2MW of modules in the first half of this year, just 15% of the capacity sold in the first half of 2024.
August 7, 2025
US residential solar installer Sunrun says it has positioned itself to continue generating strong financial returns after the passing of the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill'.
August 6, 2025
Clean Energy Associates has warned its clients of a renewed danger of Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act enforcement against solar PV products under US president Donald Trump and secretary of state Marco Rubio.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines