This article is sponsored by Shoals Technologies Group. In this VOICES interview, Solar Power World spoke with Kirsten Moen, Chief Operating Officer at Shoals, about innovation, diversity and the future of solar power manufacturing in the United States.
Solar Power World: Tell us a bit about your background. What led you to the role of COO in the clean energy manufacturing space and to Shoals?
Kirsten Moen: I come from a family of engineers — my dad was an electrical engineer, and my grandfather spent 40 years at GE. Growing up around that mindset naturally shaped my curiosity. As I started my own career, I was drawn to teams that looked at how we do things today and how we can do them better.
I studied electrical engineering and biomedical engineering in undergrad, and after graduation I went into aerospace. I got involved in design engineering, which played a major role in shaping how I think about quality. In aerospace, you see first-hand how critical quality is and the impact of getting it right (or wrong).
Over time, I developed a growing interest in business and the broader ways you can make an impact. That led me to pursue an MBA. After that, I spent 12 years at Eaton, much of that in their electrical division, working with low- and medium-voltage switchgears and focusing on ways to bring more flexibility into manufacturing processes. I also spent time at Stanley Black & Decker, where I worked across U.S. and global manufacturing in the U.S. and global manufacturing operations.
What drew me to Shoals and ultimately into the COO role was the leadership team and their vision for the clean energy space. I saw an opportunity to take everything I’ve learned about engineering, manufacturing and quality, and apply it to scaling solar manufacturing here, in the U.S. We are focused on a “make where you sell, buy where you make” strategy, and I am excited to help put that vision into action.
How is Shoals evolving to meet the changing demands of solar manufacturing, in terms of automation, technological advancements and process improvements?
The solar industry is evolving quickly, and Shoals is evolving right alongside it. Our focus is on scaling smartly. We are investing in both people and technology, while maintaining the high quality we’re known for. We’ve made major strides in automating key areas of our manufacturing process, which has helped us improve precision, reduce waste and accelerate production without compromising quality. Our new MEGA plant in Tennessee is a big part of that effort. It’s designed for maximum efficiency, allowing us to expand capacity and meet growing demand while ensuring every order can be fulfilled sustainably.
To do that, we’re thinking beyond just automation. We look closely at our supply chain — what products we buy, how long that supply chain is and where we can shorten it. Solar has traditionally relied heavily on overseas materials, but we see a huge advantage in reshoring. When we manufacture more of what we need right here in the U.S., we gain flexibility, strengthen our sourcing options and reduce risk. It allows us to buy local, support local and improve our responsiveness to customer needs.
On the production floor, flexibility is key. We’re cross-training employees, optimizing process flow and applying targeted automation where it drives the most value. At the same time, we are innovating through design and engineering — not just to improve what happens in the factory, but to solve problems in the field. From EBOS to wire harnessing, our goal is to build high-quality solutions that are plug-and-play on-site, reducing complexity and improving long-term system performance.
Ultimately, our goal is to help bring solar manufacturing back home and position the U.S. as a leader in clean energy. With much of the global supply chain still concentrated overseas, we see a critical opportunity to shift that balance. We’re committed to delivering reliable, electrical and wiring solutions for solar projects that are made right here, in Tennessee.
What impact does Shoals have on job creation in Tennessee and what skills are most in demand in the solar manufacturing industry? How does Shoals contribute to local economic growth and support local communities beyond job creation?
As one of the top employers in the area, Shoals is making a significant impact on job creation here in Tennessee. With our continued growth, we’ve added hundreds of high-quality manufacturing and non-manufacturing jobs, offering real career opportunities in a fast-growing, purpose-driven industry.
Our goal is to hire not just for where we are today, but for where we’re headed. We’re actively upskilling our current team to prepare for increased automation and are also investing in broader skill development. To support this, we’re launching an evening language school for factory workers near Nashville.
We’re building a strong talent pipeline for the future through co-op and apprenticeship programs that offer hands-on, on-the-job training. Our partnerships with local high schools and collaborations with trade schools in Tennessee and Kentucky allow us to invest in STEM education and help prepare the next generation for careers in clean energy and manufacturing. Across the board, we remain focused on supporting skill development for both our current employees and the workforce of tomorrow.
At Shoals, we see ourselves as more than a manufacturer. We’re committed to being a strong community partner. We prioritize local sourcing, keeping more economic activity within the region. Through our Shoals Serves program, we actively support local businesses, trade schools, non-profits and sustainability initiatives in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. Our team regularly volunteers for local projects, from food drives and neighborhood clean-ups to tutoring, mentorship and supporting veterans and seniors.
In addition to these efforts, we are committed to sustainability with initiatives around waste reduction, energy efficiency and recycling. For us, building a strong solar manufacturing industry is about more than technology. It’s about people, communities and our collective future.
With the growing emphasis on reshoring, what challenges and opportunities do you see for increasing U.S. based solar manufacturing?
Reshoring solar manufacturing presents both significant opportunities and key challenges. On the opportunity side, strengthening domestic production reduces reliance on foreign supply chains, enhances energy security and creates high-quality manufacturing jobs. It allows us at Shoals to implement advanced design and engineering capabilities while maintaining higher safety and sustainability standards. Personally, I love the innovation that comes with reshoring and opportunities for investment and growth.
The challenges, however, include keeping up with growing demand, securing a skilled workforce and ensuring cost competitiveness with global manufacturers. Growing demand is great, but how do you scale for that production? How do you create a flexible manufacturing process? If you’re used to really long supply chains, you could take a lot of time for production. If we’re going to compete in the global market with U.S. content, we need to be faster yet maintain high quality and safety standards.
Another huge challenge as demand goes up is having enough skilled workers who are properly trained and having enough engineers who can learn the needed automation and technical skills. Companies don’t want to always hire from outside. I want to develop the team we have and build that flexibility that is going to be critical as we grow.
As a leader in solar manufacturing, what challenges have you faced in your career and how can the industry encourage more diversity, particularly for women in this field? What advice would you give to young professionals interested in manufacturing and renewable energy?
I believe having more women in manufacturing and business is not just important —it’s essential.
Creating meaningful change has to start from the ground up. How do we reach people as early as high school? I was fortunate to grow up with a father and grandfather who supported me and instilled the mindset that I could do anything and go anywhere. That belief is powerful, and it’s something we need to actively share with young women to show them what’s possible.
Strong mentors and allies are also critical. I have conversations not only with women but with men in the industry as well, because initiatives that support women in business are not just “for women” — they require support from everyone. Male allies play a key role in creating inclusive spaces and driving progress.
Encouraging women to step up and take their place at the table means being intentional through active recruiting, mentorship programs and creating real opportunities for advancement. Those of us already in leadership positions have a responsibility to reach back and lift others up.
I’ve never left a company without increasing the number of women and diverse voices in the room, and I see that as part of my job as a leader. The clean energy sector is uniquely positioned to lead the way in inclusivity. It’s not just about hiring; it’s about building a culture where people feel like they belong and want to stay. That kind of culture starts with the team you have and the values you promote every day.
What innovations or policies do you believe will shape the future of domestic solar component manufacturing?
For anyone excited about where solar manufacturing is going on the tech side, things like high-efficiency solar panels, transition to higher voltages (2kV) and smart EBOS solutions will make a big difference both in performance and project costs.
With automation, AI and more data, there is a lot of room for U.S. manufacturing and solar production to become much more efficient and flexible.
On the policy front, government incentives have created real momentum for reshoring, and we need that long-term support for R&D and workforce development. Investing in people means developing flexible, adaptable workers. How we’ve always done it is not going to get us there. We need people thinking ahead and being part of the problem-solving.
It’s exciting. I think there’s an opportunity to build resilient high tech solar manufacturing here in the U.S. But the key is the focus on the stability, innovation, collaboration and people coming together.
Shoals Technologies Group is a leading provider of electrical balance of systems (EBOS) solutions for utility-scale, commercial and industrial solar PV and battery energy storage projects. Since its founding in 1996, the Company has introduced innovative technologies and systems solutions that allow its customers to substantially increase installation efficiency and safety while improving system performance and reliability. To learn more, please visit www.shoals.com.