Silfab secures solar wafers from Norwegian manufacturer that’s also planning U.S. production

Silfab Solar, a prominent solar PV company in North America, has successfully secured a non-China PV wafer supply agreement with NorSun, a well-established Norwegian ingot and wafer manufacturer. In an effort to expand their production capabilities, NorSun is currently in the planning stages of constructing a 5 GW ingot and wafer production facility within the United States. This strategic partnership between Silfab Solar and NorSun highlights the commitment to diversifying the PV wafer supply chain and promoting local manufacturing in the solar industry.

This agreement represents a continuation of Silfab’s strategic efforts to enhance and localize its supply chain, emphasizing increased domestic sourcing. As part of this initiative, Silfab is set to introduce 1 GW of cell production in the USA and aims to further boost its annual module production by an additional 1.3 GW, with plans to achieve this expansion as early as mid-2024.

Paolo Maccario, CEO of Silfab, highlights the significance of the partnership with NorSun in establishing wafer production within the United States. He emphasizes that this collaboration enhances Silfab’s steadfast dedication to providing North America with locally manufactured, top-quality solar panels.

Supported by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), both Silfab and NorSun are deeply committed to further developing the North American solar value chain. Their shared goal is to consistently provide the U.S. market with ethically sourced, premium-quality solar panels that deliver exceptional performance. This commitment extends to serving both residential and commercial customers in the most reliable and sustainable manner possible.

Through this agreement, Silfab gains the opportunity to expand its supply of environmentally friendly wafers sourced from the United States and Europe. This will enable the company to further reduce the carbon footprint of its top-notch solar modules. In parallel, NorSun has secured $8.5 million (NOK 90 million) in new equity, which will support the development of growth projects in the United States and Europe. At the same time, Silfab is utilizing a $125 million investment round to establish its third facility in the United States. This expansion aims to meet the growing demand for Silfab’s industry-leading PV modules and marks the company’s entry into solar cell manufacturing.