Firms to produce first fully US-made silicon solar panels, target 1GW output yearly
By Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering.
Excerpt: In a significant development for the U.S. solar industry, three manufacturers, Suniva, Heliene, and Corning, have unveiled plans to produce solar modules that will be exclusively available within the domestic market. This initiative marks a notable advancement in enhancing local manufacturing capabilities of renewable energy components. Corning is set to supply the necessary wafers and polysilicon for the modules, while Suniva will provide monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Heliene will handle the assembly of these components into finished modules. ...The wafers and polysilicon will be produced in Michigan, with the solar cells fabricated in Georgia. ...This development is particularly relevant in light of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), a crucial element of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which aims to encourage increased domestic production of renewable energy components and materials. The ITC offers financial incentives that could make these modules more competitive in a rapidly evolving market. With the new partnership, the firms aim to produce 1 GW of solar modules per year, which is enough to power about 173,000 homes. ...With the new partnership, the firms aim to produce 1 GW of solar modules per year, which is enough to power about 173,000 homes....