According to industry sources on June 10, Hanwha Solutions’ Q CELLS division has completed the cell production line at its Cartersville, Georgia, facility and will begin mass production in July. This addition of the cell process to the existing ingot, wafer, and module production lines completes the establishment of the "Solar Hub," the only integrated solar production base in the U.S. that vertically integrates the core value chain from ingot to module.
The Solar Hub has expanded Hanwha Q CELLS' production capacity in the U.S. to 3.3 GW each for ingots, wafers, and cells, and 8.6 GW for modules, making it one of the largest silicon solar module manufacturers in North America.
Hanwha Q CELLS completed inspections of key equipment necessary for cell mass production in May and is currently conducting trial operations. Starting in July, the company will begin producing U.S.-made modules using cells manufactured at the Cartersville facility, fully activating its entire value chain.
Market analysts highlight that the completion of the Solar Hub will significantly improve profitability as it expands benefits from the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit (AMPC) due to the establishment of a solar manufacturing value chain in the U.S. Hanwha Q CELLS will also receive additional AMPC for the cells and wafers produced at the Cartersville plant.
This year, Hanwha Q CELLS is expected to receive approximately $675 million in AMPC benefits. By 2027, when the Cartersville facility is fully operational, this amount is projected to rise to $879 million, $929 million in 2028, and $1.1 billion by 2029.
The increased use of U.S.-made components is also expected to provide a premium effect. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers additional tax benefits for projects that meet domestic component usage requirements. As securing U.S.-made cells is a key requirement, Hanwha Q CELLS' competitiveness in U.S.-made modules is anticipated to strengthen further.
In addition to expanding production capacity, Hanwha Q CELLS is also accelerating the acquisition of next-generation solar technology.
Recently, Hanwha Q CELLS' German subsidiary agreed to supply tandem cell samples for a space science and technology demonstration project (SSTEF-1) involving the Georgia Institute of Technology. This project is funded by NASA and managed by Aegis Aerospace as part of a space technology demonstration program.
Researchers at Georgia Tech will install Hanwha Q CELLS' tandem cell samples on the surface of a lunar lander to gather performance data in a space environment. Hanwha Q CELLS plans to use this data to verify stability and reliability in conditions such as space radiation and extreme temperature changes, which differ from those on Earth, and to aid in the future development of space solar technology.
Tandem cells are next-generation solar cells that enhance efficiency by adding a perovskite layer on top of traditional silicon solar cells. Hanwha Q CELLS recorded a world-leading efficiency of 28.6% for large-area (M10 standard) tandem cells in 2024 and is conducting research and development with a goal of commercialization by 2029.
"Hanwha Q CELLS will leverage the technology and market competitiveness accumulated from its solar manufacturing roots to become a global renewable energy solutions provider that opens the era of space solar power," said CEO Park Seung-deok. "This project will serve as a significant turning point in extending the possibilities of sustainable energy to space."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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