The Brief — Solar — 2026-09-11

MARKET & POLICY

ITC expiration led to surge in solar installs in Q2 2026 Q2 2026 delivered 11.4 GW of new solar capacity, up 46% year-over-year, driven by ITC cliff concerns. Why it matters: This surge reflects customer urgency to lock in tax credits before expiration; expect permitting backlogs and tighter competition on pricing through the remainder of the year.

Trump emergency order casts uncertainty over grid battery growth A vaguely worded executive order on grid cybersecurity threatens to slow energy storage market growth. Why it matters: If storage projects face new compliance or sourcing restrictions, bundled solar-plus-storage offerings face potential delays and cost increases.

TECHNOLOGY & OPERATIONS

AI predicts wind-uplift resistance of solar PV piles A neural network model predicts pile uplift capacity with 7.63% mean error, improving foundation design accuracy. Why it matters: Better predictive modeling reduces over-engineering costs and design cycles for utility-scale projects.

Reliability risks emerge across BIPV, floating PV and agrivoltaics New IEA report identifies application-specific stresses (heat, wave loads, soiling) that existing PV standards don't fully address. Why it matters: Specialized systems require adapted testing and design practices; owners should verify supplier compliance with emerging standards.

Create Energy subsidiary SOL Components secures patent for QuickGrip solar mounting rail SOL Components' patented QuickGrip rail accelerates module mounting on single-axis trackers via integrated indexing tabs and fold-out brackets. Why it matters: Faster deployment reduces labor costs and project timelines on utility-scale tracker installations.

SUPPLY CHAIN & MANUFACTURING

ARRAY Technologies opens its largest factory in New Mexico ARRAY's $50 million, 216,000-sq-ft Albuquerque facility tripled prior capacity and supports 300 jobs in tracker and racking production. Why it matters: Expanded domestic supply reduces lead times and strengthens sourcing resilience for tracker-based projects.