Summit Ridge to purchase added 800 MW Qcells solar panels to expand community solar
Summit Ridge Energy has expanded its partnership with Qcells with a commitment to purchase 800 MW of additional solar panels to support the organization’s growing development pipeline.
The agreement builds on an existing 1.2 GW relationship between Qcells and Summit Ridge, announced in April 2023 by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. By increasing the total commitment to an impressive 2 GW — one of the largest domestic community solar purchases in history — Summit Ridge will develop more than 100 additional community solar projects across the country.
The majority of the solar panels purchased by Summit Ridge will be produced in Qcells’ new U.S. manufacturing facility located in Georgia. The expanded relationship between both organizations is supported by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes landmark tax incentives for domestic energy production and manufacturing. Summit Ridge and Qcells were the first to enter into domestic manufacturing agreements under the IRA. Additionally, Qcells will continue to provide Summit Ridge with battery storage and software solutions under separate procurement agreements.
In addition to supporting domestically manufactured solar infrastructure and job creation, the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act included in the IRA is playing a key role in Qcells’ plans to deliver a fully integrated domestic supply chain supporting companies like Summit Ridge during times of uncertainty caused by tariffs and global supply chain constraints.
“Through our Qcells partnership, we are able to support domestic manufacturing and job creation, while simultaneously bringing low-cost clean energy to communities that have historically been left out of the clean energy transition,” said Brian Dunn, chief operating officer of Summit Ridge Energy.
Many of Summit Ridge’s solar projects also qualify for IRA tax credits that will provide thousands of low-income households with greater access to clean energy savings.
“Expanding this relationship with Summit Ridge Energy means more communities will have access to the most affordable energy resource in the world,” said Justin Lee, CEO of Qcells. “This partnership not only supports the domestic manufacturing industry and thousands of jobs in solar, but it also ensures more people, especially those who have historically been left out, benefit from everything the clean energy economy has to offer.”
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