Teamwork makes the dream work- if your dream is a domestically-produced crystalline silicon photovoltaic module.

Solar cell manufacturer Suniva and module producer Heliene have announced a three-year strategic sourcing contract that will ultimately produce the first “made in the U.S.A.” PV module eligible for domestic tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Under the terms of the contract, Heliene will incorporate Suniva’s U.S.-made solar cells into its U.S.-made solar modules, with market availability beginning in mid-2024. Heliene’s modules will be the first crystalline solar modules with a U.S.-made solar cell. Currently, all U.S.-made solar crystalline modules use only imported cells.

Suniva, which portends to be the largest and oldest U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells, has been inoperative since 2017. The company announced a restart of its manufacturing operations in Georgia last fall. Heliene makes solar modules in Ontario, Canada and Mountain Iron, Minnesota, and is planning to expand its production capacity by adding new lines this year.

“Heliene is proud to embark on this historic partnership with Suniva at a time when the U.S. is poised to capture a greater share of the global solar market by bolstering domestic manufacturing and onshoring of supply,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. “Introducing Suniva’s U.S.-made cells into our manufacturing process will enable Heliene to expand its commitment to offering best-in-class modules that enable our customers to qualify for lucrative tax credits and i