Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens [update]

Trina Solar has sold its Texas solar panel factory as the US scrutinizes Chinese companies cashing in on Inflation Reduction Act tax breaks.

December 30, 2024: FREYR announced on December 24 that it had closed its acquisition of Trina Solar’s 5-gigawatt (GW), 1.35 million-square-foot solar panel factory in Wilmer, Texas. The purchase finalizes FREYR’s transformation from a European battery company into a US solar company.

November 8, 2024: FREYR, which was founded in Norway and moved its headquarters to Georgia, paid $340 million for Trina’s factory. Trina will retain a minority ownership stake in FREYR, reports Bloomberg. The factory is set to reach full production by 2025, with firm contracts already locking in 30% of its estimated output for US customers.

The two companies announced the acquisition on November 6, the same day that Kamala Harris conceded the US election to Donald Trump – and a mere week after Trina opened the factory. On July 31, senators introduced S.4873, a bipartisan bill aimed at stopping Chinese companies from cashing in on US tax credits meant to boost American solar manufacturing. Chinese companies are expected to face even tighter trade restrictions under the Trump administration.

As Electrek reported in August 2023, Changzhou-headquartered Trina Solar was one of five Chinese solar panel manufacturers that received a US Department of Commerce (DOC) tariff slap because the DOC ruled that the companies were dodging US tariffs on China-made goods by processing components in Southeast Asian countries before shipping their solar products to the US.

Daniel Barcelo, FREYR’s newly appointed CEO, said, “We are proud to be partnered with Trina Solar, a global manufacturing and solar technology leader. Domestic manufacturing capacity for solar and batteries is essential for energy transition and job creation.” Barcelo said in an interview, according to Bloomberg, that he feels confident that the newly acquired factory will qualify for the IRA manufacturing tax credit.

As Politico reported earlier this week about the Inflation Reduction Act’s 45X tax credit:

The 45X tax credit pays factory owners based on each component that’s produced. A solar module, for instance, can receive 7 cents a watt, or $70,000 per megawatt, though the payment will get smaller beginning in 2029.

Trina’s 5,000-megawatt Texas factory stands to receive $1.775 billion from 2025 through 2032 if it operates at a 78% utilization rate, according to Antoine Vagneur-Jones, head of trade and supply chains at BloombergNEF. At a 60% utilization rate, Trina would net more than $1 billion, he said.

FREYR says its next step is to build a 5 GW solar cell factory in the US, and site selection is already underway. The company plans to break ground in the second quarter of 2025, aiming for initial production in the second half of 2026. The new US-owned and operated solar cell factory will help solve a key bottleneck for developers, create up to 1,800 direct jobs, and meet local content requirements for US solar projects.

To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*