South Korea's Hanwha Group is pressing ahead with its plans to set up solar supply chain in the US with Qcells's solar supplier Hanwha Advanced Materials Georgia (HAGA) announcing a new advanced materials manufacturing facility in Georgia to become the 'only company' in the US producing solar ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA).
EVA films are a key encapsulant material used to laminate solar panels, aimed at enhancing their durability and performance.
HAGA will build the new fab, with undisclosed annual capacity, in Bartow County of Georgia for an investment of $147 million. It will create over 160 full time jobs before starting production in June 2024.
Earlier this year in January 2023, Qcells parent Hanwha Solutions announced plans to set up an integrated PV production complex in Georgia to produce ingots, wafers, cells and modules aiming for a cumulative capacity of 8.4 GW by 2024-end (see Hanwha Solutions Planning 8.4 GW US Production Capacity). The company has already invested in REC Silicon to source polysilicon from its US fab.
"This investment comes after years of partnership with leaders in Georgia and following the passage of the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act (SEMA) within the Inflation Reduction Act," stated Qcells. "Soon, Qcells products, from polysilicon to panel, will be sustainably made in America."
The CEO of Qcells Justin Lee called it a critical investment to the company realizing a complete, domestic solar supply chain. He added, "Working with Hanwha Advanced Materials, our customers will soon be able to confidently know that the solar they buy from us was made right here in America."
In September 2022, Hanwha Solutions Corporation had hinted at establishing an EVA sheet fab in the US while announcing major business restructuring (see Hanwha To Produce Module Encapsulants In US).