Bila Solar, a solar manufacturer based in the United States, has unveiled plans to establish a module manufacturing facility to produce 1 GW of advanced glassless, frameless solar modules annually.

The production is expected to commence in the summer of 2024.

The company will invest over $35 million in the renovation of a 150,000-square-foot facility located in White River Parkway East Drive, Indianapolis.

Bila Solar’s inaugural product offering is a lightweight solar module that merges the efficiency and reliability of crystalline silicon solar cells with the lightweight properties of patented aerospace composites.

With 30% less weight compared to traditional glass panels and a slimness of 95%, these modules can be employed in diverse and challenging applications. These include low-load-bearing commercial and industrial roofs, waterproof membrane roofs, integration into vehicles for solar power, off-grid energy utilization, and even curved surfaces.

The company said this innovation democratizes access to solar power in previously unreachable areas by conventional glass modules.

Mick McDaniel, VP & US General Manager of Bila Solar, said, “We’re bringing to the U.S. market ultralight modules that go where traditional solar panels can’t go.”

The company said its entrance into the market aligns with the broader trajectory of the solar industry. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the solar sector is anticipated to experience a nearly threefold increase in cumulative deployment by 2028.

This growth is attributed to a combination of federal and state incentives, including key tax benefits, fostering demand for solar and storage, and expediting the transition to renewable energy sources.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $45 million investment, including $18 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to bolster the pilot manufacturing of solar components that will contribute to the domestic manufacturing sector.

Recently, Maxeon Solar Technologies announced a 3 GW TOPCon photovoltaic-silicon cell and shingled-cell performance line solar module manufacturing facility to be developed in Albuquerque, New Mexico.