
Developers face a narrowing window to secure lower-cost supply before December 4, as Anza
outlines how to navigate pricing, inventory and tariff risk
OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Anza, a leading solar and energy storage data and analytics company, released new market data showing United States solar module prices are sharply rising following the Trump Administration's Section 232 proclamation. They also provide immediate steps developers can take to protect project economics before the December 4 minimum import prices take effect.
In the month since the Section 232 proclamation, the solar module market has moved quickly from uncertainty to repricing, with developers now moving quickly to secure lower-cost supply before the minimum import price takes effect. As suppliers adjust pricing and limited pre-deadline inventory moves through the market, developers are weighing whether to secure modules already in the U.S., accelerate imports or shift procurement strategies to preserve project economics. Against this backdrop, Anza recommends that developers immediately reassess procurement plans across four areas:
- Prioritize inventory already in the U.S.: Modules that have already cleared U.S. Customs are not exposed to the December 4 minimum import price. Developers should assess available manufacturer and peer-held inventory now, before supply tightens.
- Evaluate what can clear customs before December 4: Select imported modules remain available at significantly lower prices if they can enter the U.S. before the minimum import prices take effect, but those options are finite and moving quickly.
- Lock in domestic-content supply: Domestic cell and wafer capacity remains limited. Developers should evaluate how to meet applicable domestic content requirements at the lowest cost, including whether blending domestic and imported supply can reduce overall CapEx.
- Address tariff exposure in the contract: For modules imported before the deadline, developers should closely evaluate how contracts allocate retroactive tariff and stockpiling exposure and, where possible, seek written supplier commitments to absorb those risks.
The speed of the market's response underscores the need for developers to evaluate procurement decisions against current pricing and availability, rather than assumptions made before Section 232. Anza's platform data shows how significantly the market has already shifted in just one month:
- More than half of active suppliers have already repriced: As of September 9, 55% of active suppliers on Anza's solar platform had Section 232-inclusive pricing, covering 65% of modules on the platform.
- Imported-module pricing has risen sharply: The median price for imported modules was $0.27/W before the August 7 proclamation and is now $0.38/W for delivery after December 4, among suppliers that have repriced (an over 40% increase).
- Comparable post-December 4 quotes are up approximately 15%: On quotes where Anza can compare the same SKU and contract terms, pricing has increased by about 15%.
- Lower-cost pre-deadline supply remains available, but the window is shrinking: Anza currently has access to pre-negotiated import pricing around $0.24-$0.25/W for select modules that can clear U.S. Customs before December 4, compared with the $0.38/W post-deadline floor. Add in warehousing service for 1 cent, and you still save 10 cents if you act quickly.
"The industry has been preparing for potential Section 232 impacts for months, and we are now entering the most critical procurement window," said Aaron Hall, President of Anza. "December 4 may be the effective date, but developers can't treat it as the deadline to make a procurement decision. Modules need time to ship and clear U.S. Customs before then, and lower-cost supply available ahead of the deadline is already tightening. Developers need to understand what is available now, at what price and on what terms, and move quickly on the strategy that makes the most sense for their project."
Anza has helped customers navigate over 5 GW of module procurement over the past 12 months. It also often helps clients secure great deals and terms when policy demands a fast response. For example, it helped 11 clients secure 1.1 GW of modules under Safe Harbor in two months, ahead of the September 2, 2025 Safe Harbor deadline. Its Solar Procurement Advisory Services combine market-wide pricing and supplier data with procurement expertise to help developers evaluate inventory, domestic-content strategies, and contract structures based on each project's specific economics and requirements. Developers can schedule a meeting with Anza's Solar Procurement Advisory Services team here.
About Anza
Anza is a solar and energy storage data and analytics subscription platform, backed by an expert advisory team, that helps developers, IPPs, EPCs, utilities, and data centers make faster, more informed decisions on product strategy, selection, and procurement. By combining the industry's most comprehensive market data with advanced analytics, Anza gives clients a durable edge in pricing, product, and supply chain intelligence. Our position among 40+ solar module, 20+ battery block, and 50+ transformer suppliers, plus hundreds of buyers, provides data access, market visibility, and leverage that no single participant can achieve on its own.
Subscribers gain instant access to accurate pricing and deep datasets spanning trade risk, FEOC, domestic content, technical specifications, and counterparty information, covering more than 95% of the U.S. solar module and battery supply. Anza's Effective $/Watt solar analytics move users beyond simple price comparisons, while its automated energy storage analytics standardize and dramatically accelerate system design, budgeting, and due diligence.
Born from internal tools developed at Borrego and launched as a standalone company in 2023, Anza's mission is to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy by helping every developer and buyer make optimal development and procurement decisions. For more information, visit anzarenewables.com.
Media Contact:
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SOURCE Anza
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