PVTIME – US solar manufacturer T1 Energy has acquired a minority stake in domestic peer Talon PV, a move that strengthens the pair’s joint push to expand US solar cell manufacturing via twin facilities in Texas.
T1 Energy is building a 5GW capacity plant in Rockdale, near Austin, while Talon PV is developing a 4.8GW site in Baytown, collectively delivering nearly 10GW of new domestic production capacity. The company has not disclosed the exact percentage of the stake acquired or the investment sum, though the two firms have signed a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) and noted they will continue discussions on potential deeper strategic collaboration.
Daniel Barcelo, T1 Energy’s CEO and Board Chairman, highlighted that the investment complements the firm’s US G2 Austin project, adding that scaling domestic solar cell output is critical to safeguarding energy security, meeting regulatory requirements, and building a US solar industry rooted in advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge technology.
Both companies plan to produce TOPCon cells at their facilities, a technology that has previously sparked intellectual property lawsuits in the US. Talon PV, however, has addressed this barrier by acquiring a TOPCon patent portfolio from CdTe module maker First Solar, which it says will clear the way for commercial TOPCon production in the country. Confirmation on whether the pair will share intellectual property post-investment is still pending.
T1 Energy has also signed a ‘milestone’ agreement with Michigan manufacturing giant Corning to source US-produced polysilicon and silicon wafers. Combined with its planned cell and module capacity, the deal is set to advance a fully localized silicon-based solar supply chain, seen as a key milestone for US PV manufacturing.
Aligned with the pro-Trump, T1 Energy states its projects and Talon PV’s facilities are supported by former President Trump’s Orphaned Buildings and Brownfields Revitalization Act (OBBBA) and the 45X tax credit policy. Founded last year through the acquisition of Chinese PV major Trina Solar’s US module factory, the firm has previously voiced public support for higher tariffs on imported PV products.
Scan the QR code to follow PVTIME official account on Wechat for latest news on PV+ES
