T1 Energy and Corning today announced a new partnership to boost the U.S. solar supply chain. T1 will source hyper-pure polysilicon and solar wafers made by Corning at its plant in Michigan. 

Starting later next year, Corning wafers will be delivered to T1's G2_Austin solar cell facility, which is currently under development. The cells will then be used to make solar modules at T1's operational G1_Dallas site.

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T1's G2_Austin 5 GW Solar Cell Facility is an $850 million project. According to the company, the project is enabled by the Trump Administration's tariffs and other policies that support American manufacturing. The facility is expected to begin producing cells by the end of 2026 and create up to 1,800 full-time jobs.

G2_Austin is a key part of T1's strategy to build a domestic solar and battery supply chain. 

T1, formerly known as Norwegian company Freyr Battery, is now based in Austin, Texas. This February, Freyr announced plans to shift its focus from lithium battery development to American solar panel manufacturing with "battery aspirations."

Officials in Georgia may still have a sour taste in their mouths when it comes to T1. When T1 rebranded earlier this year, it also abandoned plans to build a massive electric battery factory in Newnan, which is near Atlanta. The company said it was bailing on the $2.6 billion project that was set to hire more than 700 people. 

According to T1, the new agreement with Corning will create a more stable and predictable supply of domestically sourced solar components. By connecting American-made polysilicon, wafers, cells and modules, this vertically integrated model supports long-term planning, regulatory compliance and energy resilience, the company says.

T1 says the U.S. needs more electricity immediately to compete in the global AI race and achieve energy independence. The T1-Corning agreement addresses this urgency by unlocking the nation's most scalable energy source through a manufacturing base that spans Michigan and Texas.

The company bought its solar panel factory from top Chinese solar panel maker Trina Solar for $340 million last year. 

"This landmark supply chain agreement with Corning will help invigorate America with scalable, reliable, low-cost energy," said Daniel Barcelo, T1's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. "This is American companies building in America and protecting American energy security." 

According to Barcelo, the U.S. needs to establish critical energy supply chains built on domestic capacity and industrial knowhow. 

AB Ghosh, Corning Vice President and General Manager of Solar and Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Semiconductor, said the company is "accelerating the ramp of our advanced manufacturing capabilities to support a resilient U.S. solar supply chain."

Hemlock Semiconductor, which is majority-owned by Corning, is the largest U.S. manufacturer of hyper-pure polysilicon. The company is headquartered in Hemlock, Michigan. 

By building foundational infrastructure in Michigan, Corning hopes to add good-paying manufacturing jobs, strengthen the U.S. solar industry and advance a more energy-independent future for the U.S.

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WEBVTT

X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0

00:00.009 --> 00:05.369

T1 Energy and Corning today announced a new

partnership to boost the US solar supply chain.

00:05.679 --> 00:11.829

T1 will source hyper pure polysilicon and solar

wafers made by Corning at its plant in Michigan.

00:12.039 --> 00:17.559

Starting later next year, Corning wafers will

be delivered to T1's G2 Austin Solar Cell

00:17.559 --> 00:20.229

facility, which is currently under development.

00:20.440 --> 00:26.079

The cells will then be used to make solar

modules at T1's operational G1 Dallas site.

00:26.200 --> 00:32.020

T1's G2 Austin 5 gigawatt solar cell facility

is an $850 million project.

00:32.310 --> 00:36.180

According to the company, the project is

enabled by the Trump administration's tariffs

00:36.180 --> 00:38.779

and other policies that support American

manufacturing.

00:39.020 --> 00:44.659

The facility is expected to begin producing

cells by the end of 2026 and create up to 1800

00:44.659 --> 00:48.979

full-time jobs.

G2 Austin is a key part of T1's strategy to

00:48.979 --> 00:52.020

build a domestic solar and battery supply chain.

00:52.299 --> 00:56.580

T1, formerly known as Norwegian company Freyr

Battery, is now based in Austin,

00:56.700 --> 00:58.419

Texas.

This February.

00:58.610 --> 01:03.759

It announced plans to shift its focus from lithium

battery development to American solar panel

01:03.759 --> 01:06.910

manufacturing with battery aspirations.

01:07.120 --> 01:11.239

Officials in Georgia may still have a sour

taste in their mouths when it comes to T1.

01:11.480 --> 01:17.000

When T1 rebranded earlier this year, it also

abandoned plans to build a massive electric

01:17.000 --> 01:19.879

battery factory in Noonan, which is near

Atlanta.

01:20.080 --> 01:24.760

The company said it was bailing on the $2.6

billion project that was set to hire more than

01:24.760 --> 01:27.849

700 people.

According to T1, the new agreement with Corning

01:28.059 --> 01:32.860

will create a more stable and predictable

supply of domestically sourced solar components

01:32.860 --> 01:36.690

by connecting American-made polysilicon wafers,

cells, and modules.

01:36.980 --> 01:39.769

This vertically integrated model supports

long-term planning,

01:39.940 --> 01:43.449

regulatory compliance, and energy resilience.

The company says.

01:43.660 --> 01:48.580

T1 says the US needs more electricity

immediately to compete in the global AI race

01:48.580 --> 01:53.419

and achieve energy independence.

The T1 Corning agreement addresses this urgency

01:53.419 --> 01:57.099

by unlocking the nation's most scalable energy

source through a manufacturing

01:57.209 --> 02:00.110

base that spans Michigan and Texas.

02:00.400 --> 02:04.800

The company bought its solar panel factory from

top Chinese solar panel maker Trina Solar for

02:04.800 --> 02:08.800

$340 million last year.

This landmark supply chain agreement with

02:08.800 --> 02:12.119

Corning will help invigorate America with

scalable, reliable,

02:12.240 --> 02:16.960

low-cost energy, said Daniel Barcelo, T1's

chief executive officer and chairman of the

02:16.960 --> 02:19.669

board.

This is American companies building in America.

02:19.669 --> 02:22.880

And protecting American energy security.

According to Barcelo,

02:22.919 --> 02:27.419

the US needs to establish critical energy

supply chains built on domestic capacity and

02:27.419 --> 02:30.940

industrial know-how.

AB Gosh, Corning, vice president and general

02:30.940 --> 02:34.330

manager of solar and chairman and CEO of

Hemlock Semiconductor,

02:34.539 --> 02:38.820

said the company is accelerating the ramp of

its advanced manufacturing capabilities to

02:38.820 --> 02:43.139

support a resilient US solar supply chain.

By building foundational infrastructure in

02:43.139 --> 02:46.610

Michigan, Corning hopes to add good paying

manufacturing jobs,

02:46.860 --> 02:52.490

strengthen the US solar industry, and advance a

more energy independent future for the US.

02:52.899 --> 02:55.660

I'm Anna Wells.

This is Manufacturing Now.