Corning, Suniva and Heliene agree 'Made in America' solar module supply chain

Suniva, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, a manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells, and Heliene, a solar PV module manufacturer, based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, have announced a deal with optical materials company Corning, based in New York State, to provide the U.S. domestic market with what they call "the only solar module made with polysilicon, wafers and cells manufactured in the United States".

Corning is to supply the wafers and, as the majority owner of Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC), sourcing HSC's hyper-pure polysilicon for the groundbreaking initiative. Both the wafers and polysilicon are made in Michigan, and the solar cells are made in Georgia, meaning that American-made solar components form the foundation of the module.

'ITC advantage'

The new component contains a solar cell with up to 66 percent U.S.-sourced content - said to be the highest percentage on the market - offering solar systems developers an advantage through the U.S. Investment Tax Credit domestic content bonus ("ITC").

"Corning is excited to leverage our advanced manufacturing expertise to deliver top-quality solar components and secure the U.S. energy supply chain," commented AB Ghosh, Corning Vice President and General Manager of Solar Technologies and Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Semiconductor.

Matt Card, President of Suniva, commented, "Together, our companies offer the only solar cell in the market that provides U.S. developers maximum ITC domestic content advantage - while building a domestic supply chain that provides for American energy independence and a strong manufacturing base."

"This partnership is a significant milestone for the U.S. solar industry," said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. "By combining our strengths, we are able to deliver not only a high-performance module but also support the domestic economy and American job creation."