ES Foundry and Bila Solar Partner for 300MW of U.S.-Made Solar Cells

ES Foundry, a leading U.S. solar technology company, has struck a multi-year deal with Bila Solar, an Indiana-based module manufacturer. This partnership aims to deliver 300 megawatts (MW) of high-performance solar cells made in the United States.

A Step Toward Stronger Domestic Solar Manufacturing

The solar cells will be produced in ES Foundry’s Greenwood, South Carolina facility, which began operations in early 2025. The plant will manufacture high-efficiency monocrystalline bifacial PERC solar cells to meet the growing demand for U.S. solar cells in scalable solar solutions.

The partnership comes at a time when the U.S. solar industry faces increasing pressure to reduce reliance on foreign imports. By producing solar cells and modules entirely within the U.S., ES Foundry and Bila Solar are strengthening the country’s clean energy supply chain.

Ken Johnston, Vice President of Sales at ES Foundry, emphasized the importance of the partnership: “This collaboration shows the growing trust in American-made solar cells. Working with Bila Solar allows us to drive domestic manufacturing and expand access to high-efficiency products. By focusing on U.S. solar cells, we can strengthen our industry.”

Bila Solar Expands Product Line and Focuses on U.S.-Made Components

Bila Solar, a newer player in the solar manufacturing space, has converted a former Eli Lilly factory in Indianapolis into a production facility for ultra-lightweight solar panels. The company is also expanding its product range to include conventional 550W glass and aluminum frame modules. These modules will incorporate solar cells produced by ES Foundry and focus on the U.S. solar cells market.

The new modules will qualify for the 10% domestic content bonus credit under the U.S. Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which incentivizes developers to use American-made components. These modules are expected to play a key role in solar projects such as fixed-tilt and carport installations.

Bila Solar plans to begin production of its new modules in May 2025. The company’s move to produce all its panels in the U.S. reflects its commitment to offering high-performance, domestically sourced solar products.

U.S. Solar Companies Showcase Commitment at Intersolar

Both companies will attend the Intersolar North America & Energy Storage North America conference from February 25-27, 2025, in San Diego, California. They will present their U.S.-manufactured solar technology to industry professionals, reinforcing their commitment to the growth of the American solar industry.

Mick McDaniel, General Manager of Bila Solar, explained: “By manufacturing all of our products in Indianapolis, we can offer solar cells made in the U.S. in our modules. We’re proud to be among the first to bring these products to market.”