Solar Thermal Storage in the United States: Policies and Incentives to Accelerate Industrial Decarbonization

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Time: 12:45pm–1:00pm
Hall: Centro Banamex
Room: Conference Area

The United States is creating new opportunities for solar thermal energy storage through regulatory mechanisms and fiscal incentives aimed at accelerating the energy transition and industrial decarbonization. Industries such as agriculture, mining, textiles, hospitality, and district heating are increasingly integrating renewable thermal solutions into their energy and emissions reduction strategies.

This session will provide insights into the U.S. market and explore how public policies and financial incentives are driving the deployment of solar thermal storage technologies in heat-intensive industrial and commercial applications. The presentation will also address the potential of these solutions to reduce energy costs, replace fossil fuels, and support long-term decarbonization goals.

12:45pm–1:00pmSolar Thermal Storage in the United States: Policies and Incentives to Accelerate Industrial Decarbonization

Will Giese

Senior Director of Government Affairs

Solaray

To Program Overview

Speakers

Speaker

Will Giese, Solaray

Senior Director of Government Affairs

U.S.

Will Giese is a respected clean energy executive with more than a decade of leadership experience in solar policy, government affairs, and marketdevelopment across the U.S. clean energy sector. He currently serves as theSenior Director of Government Affairs at Solaray Corporation, a 100%employee-owned renewable energy company with operations spanning solarmanufacturing, distribution, and long-term service. In this role, Will leadsfederal, state, and local policy strategy; regulatory affairs; and externalengagement to advance Solaray's business priorities, including solar thermalmanufacturing in California, PV and storage distribution and O&M in Hawaiʻi, and emerging circular-economy initiatives such as Solaray'supcoming solar module recycling facility on Oʻahu.Prior to joining Solaray, Will served as the Southeast RegionalDirector for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and as theExecutive Director of the Hawaiʻi Solar EnergyAssociation (HSEA), where he played a central role in shaping the US transitionto a clean energy future. His leadership helped streamline permittingprocesses, expand access to utility, commercial, and rooftop solar and storage,and support policies that enabled thousands of households and businesses toadopt renewable technologies. He has also served on numerous advisory groupsand working committees focused on distributed energy resources, gridmodernization, decommissioning and clean energy recycling, and energy equity.Will brings a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach topolicymaking and stakeholder engagement. He is recognized throughout the solarindustry for his collaborative style, grounded perspective, and commitment toadvancing policies that benefit both clean energy businesses and thecommunities they serve.