Canadian Solar Opens First US HJT Cell Line in Indiana
Solar Power World reports that Canadian Solar has opened the first 2.1-GW phase of a heterojunction technology (HJT) solar cell plant in Jeffersonville, Indiana, marking the first domestic production of HJT cells in the United States.
Market Impact
The facility, operated under Canadian Solar’s CS PowerTech subsidiary, will ship HJT cells to the company’s module assembly plant in Mesquite, Texas. At full capacity, the Indiana site is expected to produce more than 6 GW of cells annually, support more than 1,200 jobs and represent nearly $1 billion in local investment, according to Solar Power World.
“Jeffersonville is a cornerstone of our strategy to build one of North America’s most advanced energy manufacturing supply chains,” said Rusty Schmit, President of CS PowerTech. “This facility will produce next-generation HJT solar cells, support domestic manufacturing and ultimately strengthen grid reliability as our customers deploy the products.”
Phase one will ramp to full capacity over the next few months, and CS PowerTech expects to begin work on a phase two expansion before the end of the year. Canadian Solar also plans to boost its Texas panel assembly capacity to 10 GW annually, per the report. Solar Power World notes that Canadian Solar is now the only US manufacturer producing HJT cells domestically. Other US cell makers, including Suniva, ES Foundry and Qcells, produce n-type PERC or TOPCon designs instead. Some panel assemblers advertise HJT modules, but those cells are currently imported rather than domestically produced.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- EPC firms sourcing modules for Texas or Midwest projects can start asking suppliers whether Mesquite-assembled panels using Jeffersonville-made HJT cells are available as phase one output ramps over the coming months.
- Electrical and mechanical crews bidding on utility-scale jobs should track Canadian Solar’s phase two announcement, expected before year-end, since it signals additional US cell capacity beyond the initial 2.1 GW.
- Installers marketing “domestic content” compliance for tax credit purposes now have a US-made HJT cell option to reference, distinct from imported HJT cells used by some panel assemblers.
- Workforce-focused contractors and labor suppliers in the Jeffersonville, Indiana area should note the 1,200-plus jobs tied to full-capacity production, a potential source of local hiring and training partnerships.
- Firms working with Canadian Solar on Texas assembly should watch for capacity growth toward the stated 10-GW annual target at Mesquite, which could affect panel lead times and order volumes for upcoming solar installations.
