U.S.-based material sciences company Corning, crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturer Suniva, and solar module producer Heliene have partnered to establish the first fully U.S.-made solar module supply chain.

The collaboration aims to provide the U.S. market with solar modules made using locally manufactured polysilicon, wafers, and solar cells.

Corning holds a majority stake in the chemical processing facility Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC). It targets manufacturing wafers in Michigan and supplying HSC’s hyper-pure polysilicon.

Suniva aims to produce solar cells in Georgia, and Heliene targets integrating the components to deliver the final solar modules.

The new modules will contain up to 66% domestic content. This domestic content is expected to allow developers to qualify for the investment tax credit (ITC) domestic content bonus.

U.S. module manufacturing capacity had surpassed 50 GW, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said recently. This growth could allow the U.S. to produce enough modules to meet its current demand. SEIA said module manufacturing has grown five-fold since federal energy policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, were passed.

Last October, the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released the final Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit regulations to boost the growth of domestic clean energy manufacturing under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit, introduced through the Act, incentivizes U.S.-based production of renewable energy components. Eligible products include solar modules, photovoltaic cells, wind turbines, inverters, battery components, and an extensive list of critical minerals essential for energy technologies.

In December 2024, the Department of Commerce announced preliminary affirmative determinations in the anti-dumping duty investigations of crystalline photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This move follows investigations arising from concerns that manufacturers in these countries benefit from unfair government subsidies.