Gujarat-based solar module manufacturer Navitas Solar is establishing a 1.2 GW module factory in the United States through a strategic partnership with local entities, including Sustainable Equity and Colby Solar.

The facility, known as Navitas Solar USA by Colby, will be constructed within the Midwest region of the U.S. The company is yet to finalize between two undisclosed locations.

According to a source Mercom spoke to, the facility is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2024. It will be designed to eventually reach a capacity of 10 GW over the next few years.

They will leverage an array of advanced technologies, including TOPCon and Mono PERC, for its mono and bifacial modules. The company hopes to meet the rising all-black module demand in the U.S.

The company said the collaboration expands Navitas Solar’s global footprint by introducing its solar modules to the North American market through a newly formed entity, Geosol Global Distribution.

Colby Solar holds significant ownership in Navitas Solar USA by Colby.

The U.S. solar market currently presents a highly favorable environment, characterized by a promising photovoltaic sector outlook and numerous initiatives at the state level.

Colby Solar noted that Illinois’s Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) legislation offers robust workforce development incentives for renewable energy firms, contributing to the favorable landscape.

“The CEJA legislation, with its comprehensive approach to advancing clean energy, renewable resources, and environmental equity and inclusion, aligns with our core values and commitment to promoting clean energy and innovative solutions,” said Lloyd Wynn of Colby Solar.

“These favorable conditions create the perfect breeding ground for new business alliances, such as our new strategic partnership with Navitas Solar,” said Byron DeLear, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Impact and Sustainability for Sustainable Equity. “We are very proud to introduce ‘Navitas USA by Colby,’ the first majority Black-owned solar manufacturing facility in the United States, a 1.2 GW operation with plans to grow to 10 GW within a few years.”

The company recently secured $5 million in funding, which it said will be used to increase its manufacturing capacity by 1.2 GW.

In September 2022, Navitas Alpha Renewables raised ₹70 million (~$866,041) in a seed round led by investment advisory firm Niveshaay with participation from Madhusudan Sarda, IVY Growth Associates, and others.