Hanwha Solutions announced a strategic investment in polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon ASA to secure low-carbon photovoltaic materials amid growing demand for renewable energy in the United States. The company, which operates total energy solution provider Q Cells, said it agreed to purchase a 16.67% stake in REC Silicon for $160.47 million, becoming a co-leading shareholder of the polysilicon manufacturer with Aker Horizons, a Norway-headquartered investment firm focused on renewable energy.
The announcement will pave the way for the Company to make further investments throughout the solar value chain in the US, which anticipates further significant policy support when the US Congress passes the Solar Energy Manufacturing Act (SEMA) before year’s end.
REC Silicon operates two polysilicon manufacturing facilities in the US, with an annual production capacity of 20,000 MT: 18,000 at Moses Lake, Washington, and 2,000 at Butte, Montana. Using hydropower-based clean energy, REC Silicon can produce low-cost polysilicon without emitting greenhouse gases.
Hanwha Solutions weighing further US investment
This investment is intended as the next step in the creation of a comprehensive U.S. solar value chain, from production of polysilicon to fully assembled solar modules. “Most US-based polysilicon manufacturers have halted their production for solar-grade polysilicon, including REC Silicon at Moses Lake. Signing SEMA into law and leveraging smart trade and other federal policies will boost solar manufacturing in the United States,” said a Hanwha Solutions spokesperson. “Capitalizing on our expertise in polysilicon production, we will reopen the Moses Lake facility and jumpstart REC Silicon production in the US.”
Price competitiveness for domestic solar production
With the Biden administration pledging to create a net-zero economy by 2050 and use a whole-of-government approach to invest in critical manufacturing sectors like solar, the Company expects its investment in REC Silicon will help to meet the dramatically growing demand for solar panels. The administration has announced that it hopes to increase solar’s share of electricity generation in the United States to 40 percent by 2035.
See also: Hanwha Solutions acquires RES’ French business
The initiative will gain a further boost if the US congress passes its SEMA legislation by the end of the year. Designed to provide tax credits for solar manufacturers in the US, the bill can provide price competitiveness for those producing solar panels domestically. Given that the Company operates a solar module factory in Dalton, Georgia with an annual production capacity of 1.7 GW, the passage of the legislation will boost the Company’s investments into a comprehensive solar value chain, from the production of polysilicon through to fully assembled solar modules.
22% market share in the US
Taking the legislation as an opportunity, the Company seeks to maintain its top market share in the U.S. According to the latest Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables report, Q Cells has a 22% market share in the US commercial solar module market, marking two consecutive years as No.1 supplier. Q Cells has also maintained its leading position in the US residential solar markets for three consecutive years, with a 25% market share to-date in 2021. The Company is also a leading supplier to the utility solar sector.
“Expanding renewable energy is inevitable, given the global efforts to combat climate change,” added the Hanwha Solutions spokesperson. “Focusing on the US, Europe and other dynamic solar markets, we will expand our investments into the regions with a growing demand for renewable energy.” (mfo)
