By ASES Staff October 2, 2025
SOLAR 2025 photo at the conference site. © ASES
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) hosted SOLAR 2025, the 54th annual National Solar Conference, August 4–6, 2025, at the University of Colorado Boulder. The event brought together thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, students, faculty, researchers, and advocates from across the solar and renewable energy community to share ideas, inspire innovation, and build momentum for the clean energy transformation.
This year’s conference theme, “Innovation for Universal Renewable Energy Access,” highlighted solutions that drive climate resilience, energy justice, and technological progress. Attendees arrived curious about the state of the industry, given recent federal changes, and left affirming that solar is here to stay.
The industry is strong enough to persist without federal subsidies and continues to have support at state and local levels. Attendees engaged in dynamic sessions, expanded interactive poster sessions, hands-on workshops, ASES’s first-ever career fair, and networking opportunities that fostered collaboration across the clean energy sector.
Throughout the conference, several recurring themes emerged, underscoring the breadth and urgency of today’s renewable energy transformation. Presentations and discussions highlighted the growing importance of policies that ensure equitable access to energy, particularly for low-income families and communities.
Innovations in agrivoltaics, including approaches that integrate solar with crops, livestock, and natural habitats, showed how solar can enhance rather than compete with agricultural and ecological systems. Building-integrated solar and grid advancements demonstrated how renewable energy is shaping both our infrastructure and our daily lives.
A group of conference attendees touring Jack’s Solar Garden as part of the Local Boulder Solar Tour. © ASES
Sessions also explored tipping points for solar, wind, and batteries, as well as the global forces driving the transition policy and geopolitics, climate and sustainability risks, artificial intelligence, energy transition financing, critical minerals competition, and the rapid growth of cleantech industries.
The conference concluded with a call to action: governments, companies, and the general public must work together to embed transparency, inclusiveness, and good governance into every level of the renewable energy sector. This includes policy frameworks, procurement processes, investment practices, and community advocacy.
SOLAR 2025 carried an optimistic and forward-looking spirit. Attendees came away with practical insights and renewed professional connections, and also with a shared sense that the clean energy transformation is accelerating. Despite policy shifts and supply chain issues with tariffs, the conversations in Boulder reflected a community confident in solar’s staying power and united by a vision of a just and sustainable energy future.
ASES Fellows who came to the 2025 Fellows Reception to celebrate the three 2025 fellow inductees (Seth Masia, Jennifer Rennick, and Jeffrey Peterson). © ASES
Our country’s longest-running annual solar conference, ASES is committed to being mindful of our impact on the ground and on the environment. Via thoughtful planning, SOLAR 2025 was a 100% zero-emissions event. By purchasing carbon offsets and adopting sustainable practices, ASES ensures that these in-person conferences support the planet we’re working to protect.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Boulder to make this year’s conference both inspiring and sustainable. A very special thank you to our generous sponsors and partners:
- Nextracker
- Solar Design Associates
- Ampacity
- Clevercoat Renewable Roofing
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- Canvas Cloud
- Boulder County Sustainability Climate Action & Resilience
- Solar Wave Energy, Inc
- ProjectLeapFrog.org
- REPowering Schools
- Vote Solar
- Blacks in Performance Marketing
- University of Colorado Boulder’s Master of the Environment
- New Energy Colorado
- The International Solar Energy Society
Save the Date: SOLAR 2026 in Austin, TX
ASES is excited to announce that next year’s conference, SOLAR 2026, the 55th annual National Solar Conference, will be held October 19–21, 2026, in Austin, Texas. The conference will once again unite professionals, students, and community leaders to advance the vision of a 100% renewable energy future, along with celebrating the 50th Anniversary of our ASES Chapter, the Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES)! Pete Parsons, Executive Director of TXSES has proclaimed that it will be the best solar conference ASES has ever had. Keep an eye out for updates at ases.org/conference.