U.S. Made Solar Panels 2025: Top American Manufacturers
- Sarah Lozanova
- Oct 26
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 13
The U.S. solar industry is expanding rapidly in 2025, even as trade and tariff policies reshape sourcing strategies. On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce finalized duty determinations on crystalline-silicon solar cells and modules imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, signaling major supply-chain shifts. The impact has been mixed, driving growth in U.S. solar panel manufacturing while also raising material costs for domestic producers.
For solar contractors working in this volatile environment, partnering with U.S. solar panel manufacturers is helpful. Using solar panels made in the USA may provide more consistent pricing, shorter lead-times, and stronger alignment with domestic-content incentives. Choosing American made solar panels helps mitigate risk, support supply-chain resilience, and strengthen U.S. energy independence.
At GreenLancer, we help contractors adapt to these fast-moving changes with streamlined permitting, fast plan set delivery, and expert project support—so you can keep installations moving even when market conditions shift.
Key Benefits of Using USA Made Solar Panels
The rise of U.S. solar panel manufacturers offers major advantages not just for installers, but for the broader clean energy economy.
✅ Financial Advantages: Tariff-Light Solar Panels Made in USA
One major reason installers are switching to USA made solar panels: cost certainty. While high tariffs are now applied to imported modules, many solar panel manufacturers in USA benefit from fewer trade-risks. That supports tighter margins and smoother quoting.
✅ Faster Delivery: U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturers Streamline Supply
Sourcing from solar panel manufacturers in USA means fewer overseas shipping delays, fewer customs hold-ups, and more reliable delivery windows. For installers, that translates directly to fewer installation setbacks.
✅ Strategic Benefits: Strengthening U.S. Energy Independence
Using solar panels made in the USA sends a strong message: you’re aligned with domestic sourcing incentives, you minimize geopolitical risk, and you back U.S. manufacturing growth. For contractors, aligning with American made solar panels is a standout selling point in a shifting market.
Growth of U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturers & Domestic Capacity
Even before new trade pressures, U.S. solar panel manufacturers were accelerating. According to SEIA, domestic module manufacturing capacity rose from about 14.5 GW in 2023 to more than 42 GW by the end of 2024, and surpassed 50 GW in early 2025.
With shifting import policies and tariffs targeting overseas modules, demand for solar panels made in the USA is rising fast. Contractors are increasingly sourcing American made solar panels to avoid escalating costs, secure reliable supply, and capture competitive advantage.
Today, more installers see choosing USA made solar panels as more than a way to sidestep tariffs—it’s about building a stronger business foundation. Using solar panels made in the USA supports supply-chain resilience, creates domestic manufacturing jobs in states like Georgia, Ohio, and Texas, and strengthens U.S. energy independence.
Federal policies under the Inflation Reduction Act have helped drive this growth: U.S. solar panel manufacturers are investing heavily in operations, backed by production incentives for American made solar panels. For contractors working with U.S. manufacturers, it’s an opportunity to offer modules with better lead-times, tariff-smart sourcing, and a compelling value proposition for customers.
Top American Solar Panel Manufacturers and Their U.S. Facilities
Several key players are driving growth among solar panel manufacturers in the USA and expanding capacity for domestic modules during 2025.
Canadian Solar is one of the top U.S. solar panel manufacturers, expanding its footprint amid shifting trade policy. Its Mesquite, Texas, facility began production in late 2024 with an annual capacity of 5 GW, producing roughly 20,000 modules daily. The company also plans a 5 GW solar cell plant in Jeffersonville, Indiana, by late 2025, reinforcing its commitment to solar panels made in the USA.
In 2025, Canadian Solar’s manufacturing arm, CSI Solar, reported a sharp profit decline as global tariffs and supply-demand imbalances pressured margins. The company is now evaluating partial manufacturing relocation to reduce tariff exposure while continuing to grow its U.S. presence.
For installers, the company’s U.S. operations provide access to high-efficiency HiKu and BiHiKu modules using advanced PERC and TOPCon technology—helping meet domestic-content goals and ensuring a stable supply of American made solar panels.
First Solar remains a leader among U.S. solar panel manufacturers, best known for its advanced thin-film cadmium-telluride (CdTe) technology used in its high-efficiency Series 6 Plus and Series 7 modules.
Unlike most competitors, all of First Solar’s modules are solar panels made in the USA, produced at its factories in Ohio, Alabama, and Louisiana. The company’s $1.1 billion Alabama plant, which opened in late 2024, added 3.5 GW of new capacity, bringing its total U.S. production to more than 11 GW, enough to power millions of homes.
Jinko Solar is strengthening the lineup of U.S. solar panel manufacturers by expanding its presence for solar panels made in the USA. The Jacksonville, Florida, manufacturing facility, operational since 2019, now leases approximately 284,000 square feet and is expanding into an additional 118,600 square feet of adjacent space to store raw materials and finished modules.
This move supports Jinko’s commitment to American made solar panels and aligns with your installer audience seeking USA made solar panels with shortened lead times and fewer import-related risks. Contractors choosing Jinko gain access to modules assembled in the U.S., helping them specify solar panels made in the USA and reinforce domestic-content claims alongside performance and reliability.
Meyer Burger positioned itself as a high-efficiency option among solar panel manufacturers in USA, developing heterojunction (HJT) technology modules and aiming to supply solar panels made in the USA. Its module assembly plant in Goodyear, Arizona, launched in 2024 with a planned annual capacity of up to 2 GW.
However, the company has since scaled back its U.S. operations: in 2025 Meyer Burger announced it would cease module production at the Goodyear facility due to financial and market constraints.
Qcells has emerged as one of the most prominent U.S. solar panel manufacturers, producing high-efficiency modules that qualify as solar panels made in the USA. Its signature Q.PEAK DUO series panels are made at its Dalton and Cartersville facilities in Georgia. The Cartersville plant alone adds approximately 3.3 GW of annual capacity and is central to Qcells’ goal of offering American made solar panels with full supply-chain integration (ingots, wafers, cells, modules) on U.S. soil.
For installers sourcing domestic modules, Qcells presents a strong option: reliable lead times, transparent U.S. manufacturing origin, and proximity to domestic-content incentives. As Qcells develops its U.S. capability, contractors can confidently specify modules from a recognized solar panel manufacturer in the USA, reducing import risks and improving supply-chain stability.
Silfab Solar
Silfab Solar stands out among the top solar panel manufacturers in USA for contractors seeking genuine solar panels made in the USA. The company operates a 1.1 GW module manufacturing facility in Burlington, Washington, and is rapidly expanding into the East Coast with a new flagship facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina that will add roughly 1 GW of cell production and 1.3 GW of module assembly capacity.
In May 2025, Silfab announced the sale of up to $110 million of 45X Advanced Manufacturing production-tax credits to accelerate this U.S.-based expansion, showing its commitment to offering American made solar panels and deeper domestic content.
How New Solar Tariffs Could Affect Solar Pricing in 2025 and 2026
Recent trade actions are creating meaningful ripples in the market for US made solar panels, solar panel manufacturers in USA, and all contractors sourcing solar panels made in the USA. On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) finalized steep anti-dumping and countervailing duty tariffs on solar cells and modules imported from four key Southeast Asian countries — Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Tariff rates vary by country and company, with some reaching over 3,500%.
For solar contractors this matters because many of the non-U.S. products they rely on are now subject to sudden cost-shifts, tightening of supply, and pricing unpredictability.
“Policymakers can’t champion American energy dominance while imposing tariffs that cripple the industries driving it" says Patrick McCabe, co-founder and president for GreenLancer. "The U.S. needs forward-looking trade policies that fuel growth—not reactionary measures that undermine our path to true energy leadership.”
Challenges Facing U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturers
Even as demand for renewable energy soars, U.S. solar panel manufacturers face persistent structural and economic challenges that limit growth in a globally competitive market. These hurdles affect not only producers but also installers relying on solar panels made in the USA for stable pricing and supply.
Global Competition
The U.S. solar industry continues to compete against heavily subsidized manufacturers in China and Southeast Asia, where labor, energy, and material costs remain significantly lower. Even with the 2025 tariffs now in effect, imported modules from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand still undercut pricing for many American made solar panels, especially when overseas suppliers scale rapidly with government-backed financing.
Supply Chain Constraints
Critical inputs such as polysilicon, aluminum frames, and specialty solar glass remain bottlenecks. While domestic polysilicon production from companies like Hemlock Semiconductor and REC Silicon is ramping up, much of the midstream supply chain, particularly wafer and cell production, still relies on imports. This dependency complicates the creation of truly USA made solar panels and inflates production timelines.
Regulatory and Permitting Delays
Manufacturing expansion in the U.S. often faces delays from permitting, zoning, and interagency coordination. While federal incentives encourage growth, navigating EPA standards, OSHA requirements, and state-level building codes adds months to project timelines. These complexities contrast sharply with the streamlined permitting in global solar hubs such as China or India.
Technological Innovation Pressure
The pace of global solar technology innovation is accelerating, with new advancements like tandem perovskite-silicon cells and heterojunction (HJT) modules setting new benchmarks. American solar panel manufacturers must invest heavily in research and development just to stay competitive, placing financial strain on many companies.
Technology Investment Pressure
To stay competitive with high-efficiency products like TOPCon and tandem perovskite modules now coming from Asia, U.S. solar panel manufacturers must continually invest in research, automation, and material innovation. Companies such as First Solar and Meyer Burger are advancing low-carbon and heterojunction technologies, but R&D costs remain steep, particularly for smaller or newer U.S. entrants.
Economic and Market Volatility
High interest rates, fluctuating construction costs, and uncertainty over the continuation of IRA manufacturing incentives have made long-term capital investment risky. While the Inflation Reduction Act remains active, temporary funding freezes and trade reviews in 2025 introduced instability that slowed factory buildouts and component sourcing.
Labor and Operational Costs
Compared to overseas production, U.S. labor and facility costs remain higher—sometimes double per watt. Though this ensures strict quality control and workplace safety, it limits price competitiveness, even in a tariff-protected market. Automation investments may offset some costs, but they require upfront capital that many U.S. solar panel manufacturers struggle to secure.
Infrastructure and Midstream Gaps
Despite strong momentum, the U.S. still lacks the wafer and cell fabrication capacity necessary to fully localize the supply chain. Most solar panels made in the USA still rely on imported wafers or cells. Expanding this “missing middle” of the supply chain will be essential to achieving long-term resilience and meeting domestic-content goals for federal tax credits.
Government Incentives for U.S. Manufactured Solar Panels
Federal incentives remain one of the biggest drivers supporting U.S. solar panel manufacturers and the growth of solar panels made in the USA. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) continues to provide major tax credits that reward both domestic production and installation of American made solar panels.
Domestic Content Bonus (Section 48/45 Production Credits)
Solar projects can earn an extra 10% tax credit by using U.S. made solar panels, inverters, and structural components. To qualify, at least 40% of materials must be sourced in the U.S., a threshold that will rise through 2027. This incentive drives more contractors and developers to choose U.S. solar panel manufacturers, strengthening demand for domestic products and reducing reliance on imports.
Manufacturing Tax Credits (45X Advanced Manufacturing Credit)
The IRA also provides per-watt incentives to companies that manufacture key components, including solar cells, wafers, and modules, within the U.S. These performance-based credits directly benefit solar panel manufacturers in the USA, making it more financially viable to scale new facilities and expand capacity.
Temporary Funding Review Period (2025)
In early 2025, the Trump administration issued the “Unleashing American Energy” executive order, launching a 90-day review of IRA and IIJA programs. The pause affected new grants and loans, but key IRA tax credits—such as those for American made solar panels and domestic manufacturing—are still active. Installers and manufacturers can continue to claim existing credits, though new funding rounds are on hold.
What This Means for Contractors
For installers, the combination of tariff pressures and IRA incentives reinforces the business case for sourcing USA made solar panels. Partnering with U.S. solar panel manufacturers can reduce import risk, ensure domestic-content compliance, and maximize tax credit eligibility—an increasingly important strategy in a changing trade environment.
FAQs on U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturers
Get answers to common questions about domestic PV modules and the impact of the new tariffs.
Which companies make solar panels in the USA?
Leading U.S. solar panel manufacturers include First Solar, Qcells, Silfab Solar, Jinko Solar, and Canadian Solar’s U.S. operations. Their factories in states like Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and South Carolina produce high-efficiency solar panels made in the USA that qualify for federal incentives.
How have tariffs impacted U.S. solar panel manufacturing in 2025?
The 2025 solar tariffs have boosted demand for U.S. made solar panels, but they’ve also increased production costs by raising prices on imported materials like glass and polysilicon. Some manufacturers, including Canadian Solar’s CSI Solar, have reported profit declines and are reassessing U.S. operations. With the federal solar tax credit expected to phase down after 2025, installers are accelerating projects using American made solar panels to secure incentives before they shrink.
What is the current capacity of U.S. solar panel manufacturing?
As of early 2025, U.S. solar panel manufacturing capacity exceeds 50 GW, up from about 14.5 GW in 2023. This rapid expansion—driven by domestic-content incentives and new tariff policies—marks record-high growth for U.S. solar panel manufacturers, with additional facilities expected online through 2026.
What solar panels are made in the USA?
U.S. made solar panels include models from First Solar, Qcells (Georgia), Silfab Solar (Washington and South Carolina), Jinko Solar (Florida), and Canadian Solar (Texas and Indiana). These American made solar panels qualify for domestic content incentives and can help installers earn the federal 10% tax credit bonus under the Inflation Reduction Act.
How do the new 2025 solar tariffs affect U.S. solar panel manufacturers?
The 2025 solar tariffs have increased costs on imported modules and materials, pushing demand toward U.S. solar panel manufacturers. While this benefits producers of U.S. made solar panels, higher tariffs on imported inputs like glass and aluminum have also raised production costs, creating a mixed impact across the American solar manufacturing sector.
Will American made solar panels stay exempt from the new tariffs?
Yes, American made solar panels remain exempt from the 2025 import tariffs on foreign modules. However, some U.S. solar panel manufacturers still rely on imported materials, which may face tariff-related cost increases. For installers, sourcing solar panels made in the USA still offers more stable pricing and eligibility for domestic-content tax incentives.
What is the domestic content bonus for solar projects?
Solar projects that use at least 40% U.S.-made materials—including solar panels made in the USA—qualify for a 10% domestic content bonus on the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This incentive rewards developers and installers who source from U.S. solar panel manufacturers and other American made solar components, with the threshold set to rise gradually through 2027.
U.S. Solar Panel Manufacturing: Addressing Supply Chain Shortages & Transportation Bottlenecks
The U.S. solar industry continues to expand in 2025, but key supply chain challenges remain. While the availability of U.S. made solar panels has improved, shortages in transformers, skilled labor, and raw materials like polysilicon and aluminum continue to delay some large-scale projects.
U.S. solar panel manufacturers are working to localize production of modules, cells, and components to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Expanding the domestic supply chain helps stabilize pricing, avoid international shipping bottlenecks, and strengthen long-term resilience. Continued investment in solar panel manufacturing in the USA, including more localized sourcing and logistics, will be critical for supporting industry growth and ensuring that American made solar panels remain both competitive and reliable.
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