Gas prices are rising and the demand for renewable energy is growing

Despite the US adding 4.3 gigawatts of solar manufacturing capacity in Q2, there were no additions to the upstream components of polysilicon wafer and cell manufacturing. As gas prices continue to rise and the demand for alternative power supplies grows, get a detailed look at what big names in the energy sector are doing to get ahead of the hurdles. 

On her second day at RE+ in Las Vegas, Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, explores the trajectory of solar and storage. Alongside industry experts, this episode of Interchange Recharged discusses the exciting yet challenging future of solar energy and energy storage amidst changing policy landscapes and growing demand. Sylvia and her guests explore and explain the dynamics of solar capacity, regulatory and financial challenges such as One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) accelerating the phase-down of key tax credits, and emerging technologies fueling the renewable energy sector. 

This episode includes an exclusive excerpt from Sylvia’s presentation with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). She discusses energy policy uncertainty, market saturation in the solar energy industry, and manufacturing hurdles in the renewable energy space. 

Featured guests in this episode of Interchange Recharged:  

• Sean Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Policy at SEIA 
• Steven Munson, Valuation and Tax Credit Advisor for Energy Transition at CohnReznik 

In this episode, Sylvia and her guests discuss: 

• The state of solar energy and storage - Sean discusses why solar and energy storage are crucial for power demands in the coming years, emphasising their role in new energy infrastructures. 
• Impact of policy changes - Sean and Sylvia explore the effects of recent legislative changes, including the projected decline in solar installations post-2027, and how peak chaos impacts the industry. 
• Investor perspectives and valuations - Steven shares insights on current investor sentiments, valuation challenges and trends in renewable energy financing. 
• Technological advancements – The guests discuss strategies to improve efficiencies in solar modules, automated permitting and innovations aiming to lower costs. 
• Looking Into the future – Sylvia and her guests explore potential long-term effects of emerging technologies like AI on power markets and the need to adapt quickly to policy updates. 

Interchange Recharged explores clean tech, green finance and energy innovation, the three lanes on the road to a successful global energy transition. At the intersection of these lanes is a place where ideas on finance, technology and policy are shared and debated. 

Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, and her guests bring you data and forecasts on clean technology, climate change, and offer predictions on the build out of utility-scale projects and the future of green finance.  

Check out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Energy Gang.

Follow Interchange Recharged so you don’t miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Find us on X and Bluesky – we’re @interchangeshow.