US solar industry leans on contract manufacturers to boost domestic output of inverters, trackers

Domestic solar manufacturing is seeing an unprecedented boom as the industry reaps the tax benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act. To meet the demands of electrifying and decarbonizing the American grid with products made within its borders, companies are expanding operations in the United States.

Nevados of Oakland, California, produces the All Terrain Tracker, a solar tracking system capable of installing on difficult topographies. Initially, Nevados had production arrangements with third-party companies that would outsource manufacturing services to other international factories. The company had to station inspectors in those factories to ensure the tracker components were produced to its standards and contend with meeting the demands of its clientele on an international supply chain.

Even before the IRA incentives, Nevados was considering moving tracker production to the United States to increase the reliability of its supply chain. In November 2023, the company announced its partnership with Priefert Steel on a new production line at a factory in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

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