It’s not for the faint of heart: succeeding as a manufacturer in the fiercely competitive solar and energy storage industries. So, why do some companies thrive, while others fail?
As relatively young industries, clean energy markets offer rapid opportunities – but they can disappear just as quickly. The solar industry, in particular, has seen a long list of manufacturers rise and fall amid shifting market forces and policy landscapes.
Today, with solar nearing maturity and battery storage following close behind, there’s renewed optimism. Greater policy stability, growing investor confidence, and economies of scale could pave the way for a more resilient and diverse manufacturing ecosystem. How this plays out will vary across regions – making it all the more important to examine what’s working, what’s not, and what lessons we can take forward.
Jonathan Gifford discusses in this podcast with Ivan Saha, Sebastian Gatz, and Josefin Berg, why the competition in the solar industry and energy storage market is so challenging.
About The smarter E Podcast
The smarter E podcast is all about the current trends and developments in a renewable, decentralized and digital energy industry. Our moderators Tobias Bücklein and Zackes Brustik welcome and interview personalities who shape our industry and drive developments forward. A new episode is published every Thursday.
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Ivan Saha is the CEO of Renewable Manufacturing at Reliance Infrastructure (Rinfra). Before this, he worked at the Indian solar manufacturer Vikram Solar for nearly a decade, serving as both CTO and CEO.
Sebastian Gatz is the Vice President, Renewable Energies & Strategic Partnerships at Von Ardenne. Before joining Von Ardenne, Gatz had diverse experience with production equipment suppliers, including Meyer Burger and Manz.
Josefin Berg is a Research & Analysis Manager for Solar & Energy Storage at S&P Global Commodity Insights. She has worked in solar and storage analysis at IHS Markit, which was then acquired by S&P, for approximately 15 years.
