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U.S. Establishes Fully Domestic Solar Module Supply Chain

Corning, Suniva, and Heliene have partnered to create the first fully U.S.-based solar module supply chain. Corning, which owns a majority stake in Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC), plans to manufacture wafers in Michigan and supply hyper-pure polysilicon from HSC. Suniva will produce solar cells in Georgia, while Heliene will integrate these components to produce solar modules. These modules will have up to 66% domestic content, allowing developers to qualify for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) domestic content bonus.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) recently announced that U.S. solar module manufacturing capacity has surpassed 50 GW. This expansion, driven by federal policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), has increased module manufacturing five-fold. The IRA’s 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit encourages domestic production of renewable energy components, including solar modules, PV cells, wind turbines, inverters, and battery components.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Commerce has been investigating anti-dumping violations concerning crystalline photovoltaic cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In December 2024, preliminary determinations indicated that manufacturers in these countries might be benefiting from unfair government subsidies. This scrutiny is part of broader efforts to protect and promote U.S. clean energy manufacturing.

These developments highlight the U.S. government’s commitment to boosting domestic solar manufacturing, reducing dependence on foreign imports, and securing a stable supply chain for renewable energy.