Materials science company Corning has acquired JA Solar’s module assembly facility in Arizona, marking another strategic move to strengthen its solar manufacturing capabilities in the United States. The plant will now operate under American Panel Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Corning.
“Corning is excited to leverage our advanced manufacturing expertise and expand our solar capabilities in Phoenix, Arizona, with American Panel Solutions,” said AB Ghosh, Vice President and General Manager for Solar at Corning Incorporated, and Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Semiconductor. “This facility will manufacture solar modules to serve the demand for reliable, affordable energy in the United States.”
The acquisition follows recent shifts in the U.S. solar manufacturing landscape amid rising scrutiny of foreign entities operating within the industry. JA Solar’s divestment is the second major exit by a Chinese manufacturer after Trina Solar sold its 5GW Texas module assembly plant to T1 Energy in 2023. The trend coincides with new U.S. legislation that includes the Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) provisions, which limit tax credit eligibility for manufacturers sourcing materials from certain foreign companies.
Originally announced in 2023, the acquisition supports Corning’s broader plans to build a vertically integrated solar supply chain in the U.S. The company previously unveiled a US$900 million solar wafer manufacturing facility in Michigan and continues to expand its polysilicon production capacity through its subsidiary, Hemlock Semiconductor. Earlier this year, Hemlock secured up to US$325 million under the CHIPS Incentives Program to boost domestic polysilicon output.
In March, Corning also joined forces with U.S.-based solar manufacturers Suniva and Heliene. Under the partnership, Corning will supply polysilicon and wafers from Michigan, Suniva will produce cells in Georgia, and Heliene will handle final module assembly—ensuring the entire supply chain remains within the United States. The acquisition of JA Solar’s Arizona plant further strengthens Corning’s position in the domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem.
