South Korea’s Qcells has secured a contract from tech giant Microsoft to supply 12GW US-made solar modules as part of an eight-year partnership.
Qcells will supply Microsoft with the solar modules and associated EPC services.
This includes the promise to provide EPC services and a 2.5GW module, which was first announced in January 2023.
The deal represents the largest module and EPC service agreements that Qcells has made.
The partnership is in line with Microsoft’s sustainability objectives. By 2030, the company aims to become carbon negative, water-positive and zero waste.
Qcells plans to deliver 1.5GW of solar panels to Microsoft’s contracted projects each year through to 2032.
To fulfil this objective, it has committed to establish a US solar supply chain and to produce sustainably manufactured modules.
It will source the solar modules for the project from its facility in Cartersville, Georgia. This facility is part of a $2.5bn investment announced by the company in 2023.
The Cartersville facility will begin production in the second half of 2024.
REC Silicon in Moses Lake, Washington, will produce the polysilicon needed to manufacture the solar modules.
Qcells CEO Justin Lee stated: “We are pleased to be a part of such a substantial commitment that will accelerate the global shift to renewable energy solutions.
“Qcells is uniquely positioned to ally with Microsoft towards creating a clean, sustainable future because of our investment in building an American-made solar supply chain. We look forward to expanding renewable energy frontiers together today and tomorrow.”
Microsoft energy vice-president Bobby Hollis stated: “Our expanded agreement with Qcells is designed to drive large-scale domestic production of solar modules essential to advancing a resilient US supply chain and clean energy economy.
“Through long-term agreements like this, we are signalling Microsoft’s demand and bringing more renewable energy to the grid, faster.”
In April 2022, Qcells’ parent company, Hanwha Solutions, invested $200m for the revival of the facility.
