News Article
US Solar Energy Industries Association making links at home and abroad
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the trade association for the U.S. solar industry has announced new partnerships with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) domestically as well as with The Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA)
The BCSE is a coalition of companies and trade associations from the energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy sectors, today announced a partnership to help grow solar energy markets across the country.
Under the new partnership, SEIA and BCSE will collaborate on communications, events, membership, policy, and research activities promoting solar energy. The expansion of solar furthers the missions of both organizations and directly assists their common members -- solar product manufacturers.
SEIA is a founding member of the BCSE, which was created in 1992 as a broad-based industry platform to advocate for policies aimed at increasing the deployment of clean energy technologies. The BCSE celebrated today's announcement at its annual membership meeting.
"The Business Council for Sustainable Energy is pleased to formalize its working relationship with SEIA, as the solar industry is a critical component of the diverse portfolio of clean energy solutions that the Council represents," said BCSE president Lisa Jacobson. "SEIA offers real time insights into market dynamics and the policies that will enable this industry and the clean energy sector to continue to grow for years to come."
"SEIA is excited to work with BCSE to help achieve mutual collaborative goals to better support our respective members and expand the U.S. solar energy market," said SEIA president and CEO and BCSE board member Rhone Resch.
The other announcement will see stronger economic ties developed between South Korea and the USA. KOPIA and the SEIA announced their formal partnership in an effort to strengthen the solar energy industries of both countries and boost the competitiveness of solar energy globally.
With this strategic partnership, the organizations will work jointly to promote the healthy and sustainable growth of solar energy markets at home and abroad. Specifically, SEIA and KOPIA will work together on communications, events, policy initiatives, and market research to promote the adoption of solar energy.
KOPIA president SangYeol Kim said, "This partnership shows that we are committed to working together to realize the full potential of solar energy. Through our partnership, we will be able to witness the PV industry take off to reach new heights."
"Our partnership with KOPIA will help us to better address complex issues that arise in this global market, while creating new opportunities for collaboration between the solar industries of both nations," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA.
Today, solar energy is one of the fastest growing energy technologies in America, employing more than 100,000 Americans who work at more than 5,600 companies located in every state. Cumulative U.S. solar electric capacity now totals more than 5,700 megawatts, enough to power nearly a million American homes. Second quarter growth in 2012 was more than double that of 2011.
Korea has taken steps to increase domestic usage of solar power, but its greatest participation in the market today is as a manufacturer and exporter of solar products to the world's largest solar markets. Large Korean diversified manufacturers such as Hanwha, OCI, LG, and Hyundai, Samsung, among others, have made great strides in recent years to ramp up their investment in solar manufacturing. OCI and Hanwha are active with project development activities within the U.S. today.