The ongoing rise of solar power in industrial, commercial, and residential applications has demand for solar photovoltaic installers higher than ever before. New installations reached 268 GW in 2022, with forecasts showing that 2023 new installations could reach 315 GW or higher.
Today, skilled installers are needed more than ever to satisfy growing demand for solar panels in this booming industry.
State of the Solar Photovoltaic Industry
The solar industry is undergoing a period of substantial growth without any signs of slowing in the near future. The need for sustainable energy solutions is being driven by both consumer demand and new regulations to support photovoltaics at every level. Rising fossil fuel costs and other economic pressures are also pushing more people and organizations toward solar power, increasing the need for solar modules.
Current trends point to accelerating growth for solar photovoltaics and other renewable energies. The world is expected to add as much renewable energy capacity over the next five years as it did over the past 20 years. This means that 90% of new electricity expansion will come from renewable sources.
Solar energy, in particular, is one of the most promising types of renewable energy at both residential and industrial scales. Solar photovoltaics are expected to triple by 2027, overcoming coal as the largest individual source of power capacity worldwide. New policies are also set to bring a larger share of solar photovoltaic manufacturing to American shores. The demand for solar PV installations will be incredibly high.
In the US, 2023 is set to be the best year yet for utility-scale photovoltaic technology, with 29.1 GW of new capacity expected to be added. Another 9.4 GW of storage infrastructure will help utility-scale photovoltaic solar array become a more versatile solution for US power grids.
The Green Energy Funding Boom
The US and other governments around the world have put a variety of initiatives in place to push green energy and provide funding for public and private sector projects. With many nations committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, massive efforts are underway to launch growth in solar energy and other renewables.
The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law on August 16th, 2022, and features a wide range of initiatives on climate change and renewable energies. The bill sets a target for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and solar energy has a crucial role to play in making that a reality.
Significant funding has been committed to solar energy, with a total of $60 billion devoted to clean energy. Around half of that is set to provide tax credits and other benefits to promote the manufacture of and investment in renewable energy technologies, including solar photovoltaics.
More funding for green energy comes from the USDA, with $3.1 billion prepared for investment in various projects. That funding will help a variety of organizations and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas generation in commodity production in many ways, including via the use of renewable energies.
Green Legislation
Investing in solar photovoltaic systems has never been more accessible. New legislation and programs provide opportunities for greater investment in residential, commercial, and industrial photovoltaic installations and other renewable energy systems.
The Inflation Reduction Act established a variety of tax credits that make investing in solar energy systems more affordable for both residents and businesses. Federal income tax credits for photovoltaic installations have been extended and increased, making the investment in solar energy more accessible and profitable.
The Community Solar Subscription Platform is an ambitious project established with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that seeks to enable communities to invest in shared solar energy resources. The program targets an increase of 17 GW in community solar capacity by 2025.
The Rural Energy for America Program provides guaranteed loan financing and grants for farmers, agricultural producers, and rural small businesses to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. For 2023, an additional $1 billion in grants have been made available.
The Rush to Corner an Expanding Field
With so many opportunities for investment at every scale, the number of companies vying for part of the growing market has skyrocketed. This has led to significant competition as companies strive to deliver the highest quality photovoltaic installations and services.
Individual market share among the largest US photovoltaic installers has shrunk considerably over the past few years. The two largest installers captured nearly 30% of the market in 2017. Today, competition has that market share spread across ten different companies. The remainder of the market is made up of countless smaller installers operating at a variety of scales.
Today, there are more than 10,000 solar photovoltaic companies across the US. That number encompasses installers, manufacturers, and other businesses involved in solar energy. These companies continue to innovate and strive to capture more of this growing market by providing the best in solar panel installation and service.
The Need for Qualified Solar Photovoltaic Installers
With the growth and expansion of solar panel installation companies comes the demand for skilled solar photovoltaic installers. Solar installation projects require a diverse range of skilled workers, including:
- Assemblers
- Installers
- Licensed electricians
- Linemen
- Heavy equipment operators
- Welders
- Pile drivers
- And other trades
The rapid rate of growth means that many companies struggle to find the skilled solar installer they need to satisfy demand. While the overall number of qualified workers is increasing, demand is rising even more rapidly.
In 2021, US solar industry employment rose by 9%. The majority of that growth was in photovoltaic installation. Today, more than 255,000 workers are employed in various roles throughout the US solar energy industry, with the majority in installation and project development.
Solar photovoltaic installers have one of the most promising job outlooks for the next decade of any trade. The industry is expected to achieve 27% growth over that timeframe, far outpacing average growth. The increase in solar panel installation demand, paired with competition for skilled labor from similar industries, will leave companies struggling to fill positions for years to come.
Installers Must Meet Timelines and Expertise Qualifications
In such a competitive landscape, companies must ensure that their teams are made up of skilled and qualified workers. This critical period of growth poses an excellent opportunity for solar installation companies to establish their foothold in the market, but only if they can deliver the results their customers and clients need, with guaranteed top solar PV systems.
Meeting solar photovoltaic timelines is essential to succeed in the industry. Alongside standard pressure to complete jobs on time, some complications can arise from permits and incentives. Many solar incentives are tied to project completion deadlines. A company that fails to meet those deadlines leaves itself open to legal action by its customers or at least damage to its reputation.
Finding installers with the appropriate qualifications, licensing, and experience is vital to meeting timelines and delivering results. However, screening, recruiting, and training are all significant costs and take place over timelines that may be too slow to fill roles swiftly. Thus, working with a green energy partner to fill positions for any project is the best way for solar installation companies to navigate those challenges.
Tradesmen International: The Best Green Energy Partner
Whether you’re looking for additional support to meet increasing residential solar photovoltaic demand or need an entire team for major commercial projects, you need to know that you can count on your solar installers. Tradesmen International provides on-demand access to skilled and experienced solar energy craftworkers to fill any role.
If you need top solar photovoltaic installers now, we can dispatch at a moment’s notice. Find the skilled solar photovoltaic installer you need to finish your project and reduce hiring costs at the same time. Tradesmen International handles workers’ compensation, benefits, and other details so that you get the team you need without grinding your project to a halt. Find skilled solar workers with Tradesmen International today.