Global technology giant Microsoft Corp has announced a 12 GW solar module supply deal with Qcells, a subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Solutions, from the latter's US factory in Cartersville, Georgia.
Under the module and EPC services agreement signed between the duo, Qcells will supply 12 GW solar module capacity to Microsoft over an 8-year period, translating into an estimated 1.5 GW of panels/year through 2032. Microsoft will deploy these panels for its contracted solar projects.
The Cartersville fab will use US-produced polysilicon by REC Silicon in which Qcells' parent Hanwha Solutions is a stakeholder. This is part of Qcells 8.4 GW vertically integrated solar PV manufacturing plans in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia (see Hanwha Solutions Planning 8.4 GW US Production Capacity).
Qcells calls it the company's largest module and EPC services agreement to date. This expands their previous 2.5 GW module and EPC services agreement signed a year back in January 2023 (see 2.5 GW Panel Deal Between Qcells & Microsoft).
"Our expanded agreement with Qcells is designed to drive large-scale domestic production of solar modules essential to advancing a resilient U.S. supply chain and clean energy economy," said Microsoft's Vice President, Energy, Bobby Hollis. "Through long-term agreements like this we are signaling Microsoft's demand and bringing more renewable energy to the grid, faster."