RE+ 2026 USA: the post-IRA era's most important North American renewable show
RE+ 2026 runs September 8–11 in Las Vegas, the largest North American renewable energy event with 50,000+ expected attendees. After Treasury's tightened IRA domestic-content rules, the show's central question: which module + inverter + BESS suppliers can actually deliver US-cell, US-content solutions at scale by 2028.
In 50 words: RE+ 2026 runs September 8–11 in Las Vegas, the largest North American renewable event with 50,000+ attendees. Central question this year: which module, inverter, and BESS suppliers can actually deliver US-cell, US-content solutions at scale by 2028 — given Treasury's tightened IRA domestic-content rules effective January 2028.
The event
RE+ (formerly Solar Power International + Energy Storage North America) is the dominant industry gathering for US renewable energy. The 2026 edition runs September 8–11 at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. Organized by SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association) and ESA (Energy Storage Association).
Why 2026 is the pivotal edition
Treasury's January 2026 final rules on the IRA 10% domestic-content adder set a clear deadline: by January 2028, qualifying modules must use US-manufactured cells (not just US-assembled modules with imported cells). RE+ 2026 is where the supply chain answers: who can actually deliver US-cell at scale, at what price, by when?
Key threads
US cell production at scale
First Solar, Q CELLS, Hanwha, and emerging US polysilicon-to-cell players (CubicPV, Suniva-revived, multiple greenfield) will publicly commit to 2027–2028 production capacity. Expect cumulative US cell capacity claims to exceed 50 GW/year by end-2028.
US BESS manufacturing
LFP cell manufacturing in the US is the big 2026 supply-chain story. Tesla, LG Energy Solution, Form Energy, and Northvolt's US affiliate will all have updates.
Interconnection queue reform
FERC Order 2023 implementation is happening through 2026–2027. Several IPP panels will examine which markets are actually clearing the queue backlogs vs which remain stuck.
Grid-forming BESS for ERCOT
ERCOT's draft grid-forming requirements (issued February 2026) will be a major conference track. Inverter suppliers (Sungrow, Tesla, Wartsila, Fluence) will showcase grid-forming portfolios.
What developers should expect
For US developers attending:
- Most module supply pricing for 2027 commissioning gets contracted at or just after RE+
- BESS allocation for 2027 deliveries similarly clears
- Inverter availability for grid-forming compliance will be a key procurement decision
What to watch next
The first signed long-term offtake agreements for US-cell modules at scale (100+ MW) — expected in the weeks following RE+ 2026. Pricing in those agreements determines whether the domestic-content adder is actually economic for developers.
Researched and drafted with AI assistance; reviewed and edited by the named author within 24 hours of draft.