US Solar Panel Manufacturers: Where Panels Are Made in 2026
Several major manufacturers produce solar panels in the United States in 2026, including Qcells, First Solar, T1 Energy, SEG Solar, Silfab Solar, Heliene, and Mission Solar. However, a panel assembled in a US factory may still use imported cells, wafers, or other components.
That gap matters when a customer asks for American-made panels. It affects pricing, lead times, and tax-credit paperwork.
This guide covers where US solar panel factories are, what each manufacturer builds here, and what installers should verify before ordering.
At GreenLancer, our engineering team turns your selected equipment into permit-ready plan sets and PE-reviewed designs. That keeps projects moving even when module supply and pricing shift.
US-Made Solar Panels at a Glance
Question | 2026 Answer |
Are solar panels made in the USA? | Yes. Multiple manufacturers operate US module factories. |
Are all the components made in the USA? | Usually not. Many US-assembled modules use imported cells, wafers, or other materials. |
Where are US solar panel factories? | Major facilities operate in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Washington, and Minnesota. |
Are solar cells made in the USA? | Yes, but domestic cell capacity is much smaller than module capacity. |
Does US manufacturing guarantee domestic content eligibility? | No. The tax-credit bonus uses separate sourcing tests. |
Where Are Solar Panels Made?
Most global solar manufacturing remains concentrated in China and other parts of Asia. In the United States, module factories now operate in states including Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Washington, and Minnesota.
Together, US factories have about 66 GW of nameplate module capacity, according to SEIA's Solar Market Insight. Domestic cell production is much smaller, so many US-assembled panels still use imported cells.
A solar panel goes through several manufacturing stages, and each can happen in a different country. That's why two modules from US factories can contain very different amounts of domestic content.
Solar Panel Manufacturing From Polysilicon to Module
Stage | What Happens | US Status in 2026 |
Polysilicon | Silicon is refined into high-purity feedstock | Limited domestic supply for solar |
Ingot and wafer | Silicon is grown into crystal ingots and sliced into thin wafers | Early production at Qcells in Georgia and Corning in Michigan |
Cell | Wafers are processed into cells that convert sunlight into electricity | A few GW and ramping, led by Qcells, ES Foundry, and Suniva |
Module | Cells are wired, laminated, framed, and fitted with a junction box | About 66 GW of nameplate capacity |
First Solar follows a different manufacturing process. Its cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology doesn't use the crystalline silicon ingot, wafer, and discrete cell supply chain shown above.
US Solar Panel Manufacturers and Factory Locations
The table below lists major US solar panel manufacturers with factories producing modules today. Capacity and product lines change quickly, so confirm details for the exact module you plan to order.
For a broader view, Solar Power World maintains a list of US panel factories with locations and stated capacity.
Manufacturer | US Factory Location(s) | What's Made in the US |
Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia | Modules, plus ingots, wafers, and cells at Cartersville | |
Ohio, Alabama, and Louisiana | CdTe thin-film modules | |
Wilmer, Texas | Modules, with a cell factory under construction in Milam County, Texas | |
Houston area, Texas | Modules | |
Burlington, Washington and Fort Mill, South Carolina | Modules, with cell production ramping at Fort Mill | |
Mountain Iron and Rogers, Minnesota | Modules | |
San Antonio, Texas | Modules |
US Manufacturers With Domestic Vertical Integration
Qcells has expanded into US ingot, wafer, cell, and module manufacturing at its Cartersville, Georgia factory. The site is ramping toward 3.3 GW each of ingots, wafers, and cells, plus 3.5 GW of modules.
Together with its Dalton plant, Qcells targeted 8.6 GW of US module capacity by the end of Q3 2026, according to pv magazine USA.
First Solar uses a vertically integrated US thin-film manufacturing process. Verify current capacity against First Solar's latest Form 10-Q before quoting numbers to a client.
Solar Panels Assembled in the USA
Most other US module makers assemble panels here using cells made elsewhere. T1 Energy, for example, is sourcing cells from international suppliers until its Texas cell factory opens, with first production expected in Q1 2027, according to its Q2 2026 Form 10-Q.
Some assemblers are closing the gap with domestic partners. Heliene has partnered with Suniva for US-made cells in some of its modules.
What This Means for Solar Installers
US module manufacturing is much deeper than it was a few years ago. Still, a factory location alone doesn't tell you how much of a module's supply chain is domestic.
For procurement, verify the exact product line, assembly location, cell source, and any domestic content or FEOC documentation the project owner needs. Your module choice also flows into the solar permit plan set, so a late substitution can mean a plan revision.
Made in USA vs. Assembled in USA Solar Panels
Made in USA and Assembled in USA are both regulated origin claims under FTC guidance. Most solar marketing uses qualified claims, since few panels meet the unqualified standard.
Claim | What It Means | What It Doesn't Prove |
Assembled in USA | Principal assembly happens in the US, the assembly is substantial, and the last substantial transformation occurs here | That the cells, wafers, or other major inputs are US-made |
Made with US cells | The module uses cells manufactured in the US | That wafers, polysilicon, glass, frames, or other inputs are domestic |
Made in USA (unqualified) | All or virtually all of the product is made in the US | Not proven by a US factory address alone |
Domestic vertically integrated manufacturing | Ingots, wafers, cells, and modules are made in the US for that product line | That every product the brand sells is made the same way |
Always check the specific module, not just the brand. A manufacturer can sell a US-made product line alongside imported ones.
US Solar Cell Manufacturers
Domestic solar cell manufacturing remains one of the largest gaps between US module capacity and upstream production. Many companies that assemble panels here still import cells, so the list of US cell makers is much shorter.
Cell Manufacturer | Location | Status in 2026 |
Cartersville, Georgia | Producing and ramping toward about 3.3 GW | |
Greenwood, South Carolina | About 3 GW of annual capacity | |
Georgia | About 1 GW of annual capacity | |
Fort Mill, South Carolina | Ramping | |
Milam County, Texas | Under construction, with first cells expected in Q1 2027 |
Do US-Made Solar Panels Cost More in 2026?
US-made solar panels can carry a price premium, but there's no single US-made module price. Pricing varies by manufacturer, module technology, order volume, supply agreements, tariff exposure, and whether the product carries a domestic content premium.
New Section 232 minimum import prices starting December 4, 2026 could also change the relative cost of domestic and imported modules.
How Section 232 Affects Imported Solar Panels
Beginning December 4, 2026, covered imported solar products become subject to a minimum import price program under the Section 232 polysilicon proclamation. The minimum is $0.22 per watt for solar cells and $0.38 per watt for solar modules.
Additional duties and country-specific treatment can also apply. Fixed-term contracts signed before August 6, 2026 may be treated differently, according to BDO's analysis.
Confirm tariff exposure with suppliers for the exact product and country of origin, especially for orders delivering after December 4.
Antidumping Cases Add Product-Level Risk
After you paste this, the two Waaree paragraphs sit right under this last H3, which is where they belong.
US Customs and Border Protection found in June 2026 that Waaree Energies evaded antidumping and countervailing duty orders by mislabeling the origin of certain solar cells sourced from Vietnam and Malaysia, according to pv magazine USA.
The finding carries cash deposit rates up to 271.28% on the specific covered entries, not a blanket rate on all Waaree imports, and the company has disputed the finding with appeal rights pending. The larger lesson for installers is to ask about the specific product, cell origin, and shipment pathway, not just the country listed on a spec sheet.
Does a US-Made Solar Panel Automatically Meet Domestic Content or FEOC Requirements?
No. Made in USA claims, domestic content eligibility, and FEOC compliance are different standards. FTC rules govern origin claims, the domestic content bonus uses tax-credit sourcing tests, and FEOC rules address prohibited foreign entity involvement and material assistance.
USDA grants add another layer. Under the new USDA REAP solar grant rules, farm and rural business projects are ineligible if any component was made in a country named as a foreign adversary, with an exemption for systems installed before October 1, 2026.
For cost percentage rules and documentation, see our domestic content bonus guide for solar installers. For prohibited foreign entity rules and material assistance calculations, see FEOC solar requirements for 2026.
What Solar Installers Should Verify Before Ordering US-Made Panels
Verify the exact module and its supply chain, not just the brand or headquarters. Before specifying a US-made module, ask your supplier for:
The exact model number and current datasheet
The final assembly factory location
The cell country of origin, plus wafer origin if it matters for the project
Domestic content documentation, if the project owner plans to claim the bonus
Required FEOC and PFE supplier certifications or documentation, when the project owner is relying on 48E eligibility
Supplier confirmation of applicable tariffs, AD/CVD exposure, and Section 232 treatment
UL listing and other required certifications
Distributor inventory and lead times
Written confirmation that any substitute module carries the same sourcing claims
Once you've selected your modules, GreenLancer's engineering team builds them into permit-ready solar plan sets and PE-reviewed designs for residential and commercial projects nationwide. Complete the form below to get started.
Complete the form below to get started.
FAQs on U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturers
Get answers to common questions about US solar panel manufacturers, factory locations, and 2026 tariffs.
Are any solar panels made in the USA?
Yes. Multiple manufacturers operate US module factories, and domestic capacity has reached about 66 GW. Most of those panels still use imported cells, though US cell production is growing.
Which solar panels are made in the USA in 2026?
Qcells, First Solar, T1 Energy, SEG Solar, Silfab Solar, Heliene, and Mission Solar all produce modules at US factories. Qcells has expanded into US ingot, wafer, cell, and module manufacturing, while First Solar uses a vertically integrated US thin-film process. Check the exact product line, since some brands also sell imported modules.
Where are solar panels made in the USA?
Texas has the largest cluster, with T1 Energy in Wilmer, SEG Solar in the Houston area, and Mission Solar in San Antonio. Georgia hosts Qcells' Dalton and Cartersville plants, and other factories operate in Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Washington, and Minnesota.
What is the difference between made in USA and assembled in USA solar panels?
Assembled in USA means principal, substantial assembly happened in the US, often using imported cells. An unqualified Made in USA claim requires all or virtually all of the product to be made domestically, which few solar panels meet today.
Are solar cells manufactured in the United States?
Yes, but on a much smaller scale than modules. Qcells, ES Foundry, and Suniva produce cells in Georgia and South Carolina, and T1 Energy expects to start cell production in Texas in early 2027.
Do US-made solar panels cost more?
Sometimes, but there's no single US-made module price. Pricing depends on the manufacturer, technology, order volume, and tariff exposure. Section 232 minimum import prices starting December 4, 2026 could also shift the comparison.
For project-level economics, see the commercial solar panel cost and incentives guide.
How will the December 2026 Section 232 tariffs affect imported modules?
Starting December 4, 2026, covered imports face minimum prices of $0.22 per watt for cells and $0.38 per watt for modules. Additional duties and country-specific treatment can also apply, so confirm exposure with suppliers for the exact product and origin.
Do US-made solar panels automatically qualify for the domestic content bonus?
No. The bonus depends on cost percentage thresholds, steel and iron requirements, and manufacturer documentation. GreenLancer's domestic content bonus guide explains the requirements.
What should solar installers verify before ordering US-made modules?
Confirm the exact model, assembly location, cell origin, and any domestic content or FEOC documentation. Also check tariff exposure, lead times, and whether substitutions keep the same sourcing claims.
About GreenLancer
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