Is the U.S. solar manufacturing boom standing on a hollow foundation? In this live episode from PV ModuleTech USA, Nico sits down with solar industry veteran Arndt E. Lutz, a global exec who’s seen it all—from Germany’s early solar rise to hydrogen innovation and now leading EliTe Solar’s manufacturing efforts. Despite America’s massive build-out of module assembly plants, there's a gaping hole in the supply chain: solar cell manufacturing . Arndt lays out the challenge with clarity—and urgency. It's not just about economics. It’s water, power, permitting, and a chemical process no one’s quite ready for. If we’'re serious about reshoring manufacturing, this is critical path. Expect to learn: 🔹 Why 50GW of module assembly in the U.S. means little without more cell fabs 🔹 How Germany’s “right to interconnect” flipped the solar game 🔹 Why permitting delays are crushing U.S. manufacturing timelines 🔹 The surprising reason Texas leads in solar deployment & manufacturing This is your front-row seat to the real challenges (and solutions) shaping the future of solar in America. Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/ . Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America ! You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors . Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media . Subscribe to Valence , our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/ You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on: Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus
