Suniva and Heliene announced a three-year sourcing contract to produce fully USA-made solar modules, pv magazine USA reported on March 27, 2024.
The deal
- Suniva will supply solar cells from its Norcross, Georgia factory, which it is restarting after closing in 2017.
- Heliene will build the modules at its Mountain Iron, Minnesota plant, where Line One has doubled to 300 MW next to a 500 MW line added in 2022.
- Modules with Suniva cells are expected in mid-2024.
Why cells are the bottleneck
To earn the 10 percent domestic content bonus on the investment tax credit, Treasury guidance requires USA-made cells, and few cell factories operate in the USA. Suniva said it aims to start at 1 GW of cell capacity and scale to 2.5 GW a year. Its president Matt Card credited Inflation Reduction Act incentives for making the restart possible.
FAQ
Who makes what?
Suniva makes the cells in Georgia; Heliene builds the modules in Minnesota.
How long is the contract?
Three years.
Why does it matter for tax credits?
USA-made cells are key to qualifying for the 10% domestic content bonus.
Source & credit
Source: pv magazine USA, March 27, 2024: “Suniva and Heliene partner to produce all U.S.-made solar modules”, by Anne Fischer.