State of solar and storage heading into 2026

Every year, there is a new “crisis” in solar.

And yet… the industry keeps growing.

With leadership transition underway at the Solar Energy Industries Association, Darren Van’t Hof steps in as Interim President and CEO at a pivotal moment. Policy uncertainty. Permitting bottlenecks. Election year noise. And a projected $25 billion flowing into storage in 2026 alone.

So where do we really stand?

In this candid conversation recorded live at Intersolar & Energy Storage N.A., Darren shares why solar has already won the cost battle, why storage may be the most durable growth sector in energy, and what must happen politically for the industry to keep accelerating. There are some additional fun bits about the future of SEIA and his role in there as well. ;-)

Expect to learn:

🔹 What’s the outlook from the new (Interim) CEO on the heels of SEIA’s latest board meeting

🔹 Why solar is no longer competing on cost and what that changes

🔹 How permitting and regulatory uncertainty are quietly freezing capital

🔹 Why storage could command $25 billion in 2026 alone

🔹 The political engagement strategy SEIA is building to compete dollar for dollar

Darren brings two decades of finance and board leadership experience to the conversation. His message is clear. Affordability wins. Economics win. But certainty is everything.

Hit play to understand what is noise, what is signal, and how to position your company for the next growth cycle.

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