Solar module manufacturer Heliene will incorporate Suniva’s domestically manufactured solar cells in its modules.
NORCROSS, Ga. And MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn.—Suniva, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells, and Heliene, Inc., a provider of North American-made solar PV modules, recently announced the execution of a three-year strategic sourcing contract.
Under the terms of the contract, Heliene will incorporate Suniva’s U.S.-made solar cells into its U.S.-made solar modules, with market availability beginning in mid-2024, according to a joint release by the companies. Heliene’s modules will reportedly be the first crystalline solar modules with a U.S.-made solar cell.
The contract is the percent Domestic Content Bonus Investment Tax Credit, which can be obtained by using U.S. made cells based on The U.S. Department of Treasury’s guidance published in May 2023, the release said.
With this strategic partnership, Heliene and Suniva are said to be well-positioned to rapidly scale domestic cell and module manufacturing to meet the surging demand for secure and reliable, domestically made crystalline PV modules. Currently, U.S.-made solar crystalline modules are reported to use only imported cells. The partnership will directly address that gap in the U.S. solar supply chain and help strengthen manufacturing capacity to meet increased demand for domestic products, the companies said in the release.
“Heliene is proud to embark on this historic partnership with Suniva at a time when the U.S. is poised to capture a greater share of the global solar market by bolstering domestic manufacturing and onshoring of supply,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene, in the release. “Introducing Suniva’s U.S.-made cells into our manufacturing process will enable Heliene to expand its commitment to offering best-in-class modules that enable our customers to qualify for lucrative tax credits and incentives.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Heliene, who shares our vision for growing the United States’ solar PV supply chain,” said Cristiano Amoruso, CEO of Suniva, in the release. “This contract is a testament to the effectiveness of the Inflation Reduction Act and Treasury’s May 2023 domestic content guidance. We are proud to fulfill our long-standing promise to bring back cell manufacturing to the United States at our Norcross facility.”