Steel frames for U.S. solar modules coming in 2025
The buildout of the U.S. solar module supply chain is coming along slowly, but surely. Solar cells are the most crucial component to onshore from a domestic content perspective, but a 100% U.S.-made solar module is not complete without a frame – and Origami Solar is one step closer to pumping out U.S.-made steel module frames in 2025.
This week, Origami Solar, established its first frame roll-forming manufacturing line in partnership with Unimacts, at their facility in Houston, Texas. This is one of three partnerships the Origami Solar team announced in June.
Unimacts is a global manufacturer focusing on renewable energy and one of the major steel fabricators for the solar industry in the United States. This Unimacts roll-forming line will produce Origami Solar steel module frames for customer evaluation and volume production.
“Origami Solar’s partnership with Unimacts reinforces our commitment to creating a durable, decarbonized, and domestic supply chain for steel module frames with best-in-class roll-forming partners,” said Gregg Patterson, CEO of Origami Solar. “The Houston location is in close proximity to a growing number of Texas-based module manufacturers. It will ensure that they can increase domestic content and meet customer demand without the risks associated with long international supply chains.”
A U.S. manufacturing base for PV frames allows for one-to-two-day transit times to U.S. module manufacturers, eliminates tariff risks and adds a minimum of 5-7% domestic content, per the Safe Harbor Tables.
Origami Solar U.S. Supply Chain
This new manufacturing capability is the latest step in Origami Solar’s plan to quickly scale a resilient U.S.-based supply chain with best-in-class roll-forming partners. The Houston facility will expand to support multiple roll-forming lines to handle flexible short runs as well as high-speed fully automated volume production as Origami’s business grows. This approach can be repeated across other Unimacts locations in the U.S. and around the world.
Unimacts has manufacturing capabilities in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, India, and Vietnam and can quickly expand both domestically and globally to support Origami Solar steel frame growth.
In that June announcement, Welser Profile of Valley City, Ohio, and Priefert Steel, of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, were the other two sites mentioned. A spokesperson for Origami confirmed that “All are ready to scale to meet the industry’s need for steel module frames, and will supply frames within 1-2 days for any module manufacturer in the U.S.”
Modules with steel frames?
As Origami Solar begins production in Houston, the company continues its collaborative work with leading Tier 1 and Tier 2 module manufacturers. With over 30 GW of potential customer opportunity, Origami Solar is on track to scale its production rapidly and secure a significant share of the U.S. solar module frame market.
Steel module frames
- Origami Solar’s steel frames enhance module strength. Testing of the first-generation steel frame design conducted at TECSI Solar compared a 35 mm tall Origami steel frame against a 40 mm aluminum frame under identical conditions and using identical PV laminates. See findings here.
- Domestically produced steel PV frames also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 90% versus foreign aluminum frames.
- Aluminum is about 3x the cost of steel on a per-pound basis. On top of that, the steel roll-forming production process is much simpler, faster and more cost-effective.
Comments are closed here.