A Milestone in U.S. Solar Production
The solar industry in the United States has reached a significant turning point. For the longest time, solar panels assembled in the U.S. relied entirely on solar cells sourced from abroad. However, a landmark deal is about to change the landscape of American solar manufacturing.
Collaboration Breeds Innovation
In an unprecedented move, Heliene, a solar panel manufacturer operating out of Minnesota, has signed a strategic partnership worth $400 million with Suniva, a Georgia-based producer of monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Their collaboration will span the next three years and is set to propel the U.S. solar industry forward.
A Shift Towards Domestic Production
By mid-2024, the market will witness the rollout of Heliene’s solar modules, which will be distinguished as the first crystalline solar panels incorporating solar cells made on American soil. The impetus for this initiative comes from a desire by solar project owners and developers to access the Domestic Content Bonus Investment Tax Credit, a 10% incentive that requires the use of U.S.-manufactured cells, in accordance to guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Treasury in May 2023.
Incentives Fueling Growth
These developments come in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act‘s 30% tax credit designed to bolster renewable energy factories. It’s a move that U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen commends, highlighting the growth and recovery of solar manufacturing jobs in the U.S. since the inception of the current administration after a period of decline.
A Commitment to U.S. Manufacturing
Amidst this transformative period, Cristiano Amoruso, CEO of Suniva, expresses pride in fulfilling a long-standing commitment to rejuvenate cell manufacturing within the United States. The Norcross facility in Georgia stands as a testament to this revival and a beacon of American innovation in the renewable energy sector.
The synergy between Heliene and Suniva marks a renaissance for the U.S. solar industry, promising a future where sustainability is not just imported, but homegrown.
