Solar Market and Cost Analysis
U.S. PV Module Imports (GWdc)
Q1-Q3 2022 U.S. Module
Imports by Tariff
•
In Q1-Q3 2022, only 10% (1.9 GWdc) of modules reported
Thin-film
Modules, Not
subject to Section
201
18.0
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
Q1-Q3 2022 U.S. Module Imports by Tariff
Section 201
Duty
Reported
c-Si Exempt
from Section
201
2.0
0.0
Section 201 Duty
Reported
No Section 201 Duty
Reported
Section 201
Dutiable, but No
Duty Reported
•
a tariff, compared to 62% (11.5 GWdc) in Q1-Q3 2021.
•
Most of the modules that did not were c-Si technology panels
exempt from Section 201 tariffs (11 GW dc, 61%) or thin-film and
not subject to tariffs (4.7 GW dc, 26%).
• The c-Si imports were likely bifacial panels, which the Biden
administration exempted from Section 201 duties in February
2022.
CdTe panels are not subject to the various duties to which c-Si
modules are subject, and they do not have a supply chain in
locations currently scrutinized over the use of forced labor.
In Q3 2022, imports of c-Si panels exempt from Section
201 tariffs increased nearly 300 MW dc (+8%), cooling a
nearly exponential trend over the prior three quarters.
• Q1-Q3 2022 imports of thin-film modules were up 26%,
or nearly 1 GW dc y/y.
Notes: We assumed all modules not subject to Section 201 tariffs are reported under "Free under HS Chapters 1-98" or "Entered into U.S. Virgin Islands," with exemptions coming from HTS code
8541406015/8541430010, and technologies not applicable reported under HTS code 854140603. We assumed all panels subject to Section 201 duties are reported under "Dutiable- HS chapter
99." Manual corrections were made to the following value due to suspected data entry errors for HTS code 8541430010: Cambodia February 2022.
Sources: Imports by HTS code: 8541460015(2018-2021)/8541430010(2022-) and 8541460035(2018-2021)/8541430080(2022-), Second Quantity (watts), and Rate Provision Code
from the U.S. International Trade Commission DataWeb as well as the U.S. Census Bureau USA Trade Online tool and corrections page as of 1/19/23.
NREL 51View entire presentation