Solar trackers and fixed-tilt solutions manufacturer OMCO Solar has announced its 6th US manufacturing facility. It is coming up in Alabama, close to solar module producer First Solar's fab in Lawrence County. The solar module producer has placed a big backrail order with OMCO for Series 7.
OMCO says its latest factory will have multiple high-speed manufacturing systems designed specifically to produce steel backrails for First Solar. It will also feature 4 new manufacturing systems for OMCO's fixed-tilt Choice and Origin tracker solutions, shared the manufacturer.
"The First Solar agreement, and our newest facility in Alabama, demonstrate our commitment to bolster domestic manufacturing, create US jobs, and provide factory-direct solutions that solve for the complexity of utility-scale solar projects," said OMCO CEO Gary Schuster.
In times of supply chain uncertainties and the need for the solar industry to use domestically produced components to be able to avail benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), manufacturers like First Solar will be increasingly looking at local supply contracts of such nature.
"Ever since we made the strategic decision to build a domestic value chain in 2019, we have built a supply ecosystem that demonstrates that it is possible to manufacture a solar module in America, for America, with domestically sourced materials including glass and steel," said First Solar's Chief Supply Chain Officer Mike Koralewski. "Working with suppliers like OMCO helps us to maximize the value created for the US in terms of jobs and economic growth."
Once the Alabama fab is online by the end of 2024, it will be the solar tracker producer's 2nd fab in Alabama. To be built with more than $10 million in investment, the new factory will increase OMCO's total US manufacturing capacity to exceed 10 GW, covering over 700,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space across the country.
In May 2023, the company opened its 5th manufacturing fab in the state of Indiana, its 2nd in the state. It also operates manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Arizona (see OMCO Solar Expands Production Capacity).