Treasury Safe Harbor Changes and What They Mean for Solar Developers

Clean Power Hour

In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague and John Weaver unpack the latest developments shaping the clean energy landscape. From federal treasury guidance on safe harbor rules to Africa’s record solar imports, Indonesia’s massive microgrid project, EV tax credit updates, prefab solar carports, and lessons learned from hurricane-tested solar arrays, the conversation explores how solar, wind, and storage are transforming global energy markets.

Episode Highlights

• New federal treasury guidance on safe harbor shifts rules for large-scale projects, moving from a 5% spend requirement to continuous construction (PV Magazine).
• Installers must diversify, with batteries, EV infrastructure, and heat pumps becoming essential parts of the business model.
• EV buyers can lock in the $7,500 tax credit through 2026 with a down payment and contract today (IRS).
• Africa set a record with 1.6 GW of Chinese solar panel imports in May 2024, with countries like Chad leapfrogging traditional infrastructure (Wired Magazine).
• Indonesia is launching one of the world’s largest distributed energy projects, targeting 80,000 villages with 1 MW solar and 4 MWh battery microgrids. (PV Magazine)
• A 250 kW prefab solar carport was installed overnight in Australia, demonstrating 3x faster productivity than traditional methods (PV Magazine Australia)
• US developers report that nearly half of new electric generating capacity this year comes from solar, with record installations nearing 70 GW (US EIA).
• Hurricane-tested solar arrays show that through-bolting and stronger module frames are key to survival in high-wind regions (PV Magazine, RMI report).

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

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The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com