Planning ahead matters. Installers who do not safe harbor may face a harder time competing on projects after 2026 against companies that secured current tax credit benefits earlier. Understanding domestic content percentages, project thresholds, and qualification requirements now can help create more flexibility for the years ahead.

*We are not tax professionals. Consult your tax professional about safe harbor and other tax incentives.

00:50 Safe harbor overview and upcoming deadlines

02:05 What if you miss the deadline?

02:46 Understanding percentages and eligible expenditures

04:08 Demonstrating project construction start dates

06:14 How does the IRS define work of a significant nature?

08:24 Necessary documentation for safe harboring

09:17 Importance of interconnection and permitting

10:25 Key takeaways for solar installers to safe harbor projects

00:55 Where the solar market stands today

03:09 Biggest changes impacting the market in 2026

06:14 Understanding your options in this new landscape

09:42 Biggest challenges facing solar installers today

14:18 Reasons for hope in today's solar market

15:53 How to take back control of your solar business

Travis shares insight into how BayWa r.e. supports customers beyond supplying equipment. From holding products to aligning delivery with project readiness, this conversation highlights the value of partnership in powering solar projects forward.

0:52 - How does BayWa r.e. think about supporting customers beyond just selling product?

2:05 - What would you say makes our approach to holding and managing customer product different from other distributors?

5:03 - In what kinds of situations might a customer need us to hold product for them before it's ready to ship?

6:33 - How does the ability to hold product help customers stay on track when projects are delayed or timelines shift?

8:00 - What kind of peace of mind does it give customers knowing their equipment is secured and accounted for, even if it's not immediately deployed?

9:02 - How does this approach help customers manage risk during uncertain or changing market conditions?

10:30 - Can you share an example of how holding product has helped a customer navigate a challenging project timeline?

12:17 - Final thoughts

Learn more about BayWa r.e.: https://solar-distribution-us.baywa-re.com/

0:36 - How to handle the Dec. 31, 2025, deadline for end of ITC

3:08 - What qualifies as a "project" to qualify for tax credit by Dec. 31.

5:40 - What should solar installers do now to prepare for life after ITC?

9:04 - Ways to change my sales approach (and pricing) with no tax credit.

13:26 - Is "diversification" strategy still viable without EV and other tax credits?

16:52 - The case for getting into commercial solar projects

21:07 - Final thoughts: Any silver linings to losing the tax credit?

Director of Distribution Sales, SMA America

In this Solar Tech Talk, we look at repowering from every angle with expert insights from David Dunlap, Vice President of Product Strategy of BayWa r.e., Joy Seitz, CEO of American Solar & Roofing, and Brandon Davis, Sales Director, Distribution of SMA America.

1:40 - What is repowering as a solar installer?

5:20 - Repowering as a business model for existing customers & orphaned PV systems

9:35 - Quoting repowering jobs - strategies & challenges

14:37 - The importance of repowering solar in 2025 and beyond

21:20 - How to approach repowering opportunities with effective communication & solutions

28:15 - Customer acquisition for repowering, opportunities and risk

34:50 - Doing the work: Having the right team to perform repowering jobs

42:15 - Final thoughts on the value of repowering

Learn more about SMA America: https://www.sma-america.com/

Learn more about American Solar & Roofing: https://www.americansolarandroofing.com/

Learn more about BayWa r.e.: https://solar-distribution-us.baywa-re.com/

0:00 - Intro

1:37 - Is this a setback for the solar industry?

4:45 - Installer advocacy experience leading up to the final bill

12:48 - How will the early elimination of 25D (Homeowner ITC) affect solar installers?

25:32 - Commercial tax credits, the value of leasing models and solar installations for businesses

35:50 - Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC), Safe Harboring, and other considerations for C&I solar

48:36 - The state of clean energy manufacturing in the U.S.

1:01:00 - The immediate timeline of industry shifts 

1:04:45 - Positioning solar beyond ROI & adding diverse offerings

1:15:15 - Final thoughts 

Note: this podcast was recorded on July 8th, 2025.

To kick things off we’re zooming in on the concept of “repowering,” and how you can turn that into a profit center, with Travis Walker, Director of Business Development at BayWa r.e., and Corey Garrison, CEO of SouthFace Solar & Electric in Arizona.

0:52 – What services should be offered by solar installer’s “service department”

3:32 – How to start pursuing solar repowering jobs

5:54 – How to sort a list of past customers for repowering potential

8:08 – The value of customer service agreements

9:01 – The economics of solar repowering: What’s my margin?

13:39 – Working with new (unhappy) customers with stranded systems

15:33 – Challenges or downsides to repowering jobs?

18:13 – Three ways to approach repowering as a line of business

22:16 – Hardware considerations when repowering.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How market demand for domestic content products is changing
• How leading manufacturers are adjusting to the new guidelines
• And what installers should know about domestic content in 2025

Note: The information in this podcast is not tax, accounting, legal, or financial advice, and is intended for general informational purposes only. BayWa r.e., its employees, and the guests of this podcast do not hold any certifications or licenses related to tax advice and listeners are encouraged to consult a qualified advisor for specific tax-related questions.

0:48 - Has the Trump Administration changed the domestic content outlook?

3:02 - Available U.S. solar manufacturing (modules, inverters, racking, batteries)

7:12 - Overview of changes to Safe Harbor Tables

9:38 - Is there value in sourcing a module with domestic wafers?

13:23 - MLPE vs. string cost percentage comparison

17:26 - How long can I use the May 2024 Safe Harbor Table?

19:24 - Changes to Energy Storage domestic content rules

22:29 - Does the DC percentage step up 5% each year for the ITC or no?

25:16 - What is the residential demand for domestic content solar products?

27:58 - Demand for domestic content in commercial solar?

29:06 - Is it just better to not pursue the domestic content tax credit?

Follow BayWa r.e.: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bwresolarus/

Subscribe to Solar Builder: https://solarbuildermag.com/subscribe/

Highly respected industry leaders Corey Geiger from Enstall US, Eric Bergman from Enphase, and David Dunlap from BayWa r.e. unpack the complexities of the IRA’s Domestic Content bonus adder.

You will learn:

• What Domestic Content is and how this policy is reshaping the U.S. solar manufacturing landscape, from utility-scale to residential projects
• Who can claim these lucrative tax credits
• How these tax credits impact the supply chain
• What the domestic content bonus means for installers and end-users alike

Don’t miss this power-packed episode that illuminates the future of American solar manufacturing and its ripple effects across the industry.

Featuring:

• David Dunlap, VP of Strategy, BayWa r.e.
• Corey Geiger, COO, Enstall US
• Eric Bergman, C&I Sales Director, Enphase Energy
• Daniela Schwartzman, Marketing Relationships Manager, BayWa r.e.

• The Fronius GEN24 and GEN24 Plus inverters
• Fronius' focus on quality and testing to build their products
• How installers are using the Fronius GEN24 to streamline their process and what they say about the product
• How installers can level up their system design and development using Fronius' platforms

Featuring:

• Summer Rain Ursomarso, Director of Marketing, BayWa r.e.
• Zachary Kirin, Product Manager, Fronius USA

Want to learn more? Talk to a solar expert directly.

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The BayWa r.e. Solar r.e.view podcast is a hosting spot for multiple series that cover all things residential and commercial solar. The Solar Tech Talk does a deep dive into products solar installers need to be successful in developing and installing systems. Other shorter series pop up from time to time to address real issues in the market and support solar installers to build their businesses. Subscribe to the podcast or view our blog for all our recordings. Follow us on LinkedIn for regular content postings, too.

• 0:35 – Why should I consider offering solar systems via leases – aka third-party ownership?
• 1:48 – Questions to ask of my business before offering TPO?
• 4:06 – Fundamental differences in leases vs loans, as a business model
• 5:49 – Is there more work on the front end?
• 7:08 – How do I evaluate TPO providers? Fine print to watch for?
• 11:01 – How does TPO change my cashflow?
• 12:58 – How does a lease deal change my O&M strategy?
• 14:24 – What if a TPO customer wants to add a battery?
• 16:47 – Examples of how financing can sink or save a business.

Learn more about financing with TPO to support business development: Financing for Solar Installers - BayWa r.e. Solar Systems (baywa-re.com)

0:31 – Takeaways from RE+ 2024 conversations

2:05 – Out look on TPO (leases) vs. loans now

3:27 – The role of a distributor in tracking domestic content

4:40 – Should I still offer TPO in 2025 with interest rates going down?

6:44 – Who actually benefits from the 10% domestic content adder?

8:41 – Explanation of Split-Pay, and how installers benefit

• 0:42 – What has hurt solar businesses the most in 2024? M1 payments
•  2:32 – Three healthy solar business practices in 2024
•  7:27 – Questions to ask suppliers at RE+
•  9:48 – How to evaluate loan and TPO providers at RE+
•  12:10 – What else is going at RE+?

0:30 – Overview of BayWa r.e. Business Leadership Summit (BLS)

3:08 – Mood of solar installers right now

4:35 – Installer testimonial from BLS

6:49 – Takeaways from Enphase Co-founder keynote speech

9:37 – Battling solar installer “untrustworthiness”

13:20 – Optimistic outlook for C&I solar

15:05 – What to get excited about in residential market

17:04 – Domestic content interest growing

17:56 – What’s in store for BLS 2025?

0:50 - Vibe of the industry heading into the event

1:56 - This year's theme: Scaling your solar business

2:40 - Saying no to bad business, and focusing more on quality customers

5:32 - Example of 'bad' business

7:47 - Standout comments from sessions and our conversations

10:21 - Products that stood out

12:05 - Final thoughts from NABCEP 2024