On June 27, 2024, Imperial Star Solar made the opening of their 2 GW facility in Tomball, Texas official. The grand opening event was attended by government representatives such as Claudia Ornelas, the Deputy District Director to US Congressman Wesley Hunt, Tomball Texas Councilman Dane Dunigan and Special Project Commissioner for Texas’ District 3, Bert Keller.
Keynote presentations were delivered by Matt Card, the President and COO of Suniva as well as Miguel Prado, the CEO of EnergyRE. Both keynote presentations underscored a theme of the day — domestic solar production.
Round Table Discussion Highlights Domestic Supply Availability
One of the defining moments of the day was a roundtable discussion hosted by Imperial Star Solar Sales Manager Chris Lettman.
With over 15 years in the solar industry, Chris’ extensive network and industry knowledge lent perfectly to the perspective of the discussion. Chris led Mark Farrelly from Amphenol, Danny Dai from CZT Energy, and Nicola Sichierri from the Hanwha Group in a roundtable discussion addressing questions related to their professional perspectives on the US-domestic PV module market.
All three men lent their own perspectives on how CZT, Hanwha and Amphenol have navigated the competing supply and demand of the domestic PV module market — including how recent policy changes have impacted their operations.
One major theme was the bright future of the Texas energy market — historically an oil and gas-based industry that has been quickly moving toward renewables —as well as how to address issues of permitting and policy to expand the domestic market.
When asked by Lettman “In 2023, several articles were published around domestic manufacturing, specifically one from SEIA titled “The Solar Manufacturing Renaissance is Here”. Are we in the midst of this boom? Are we peeking or is this just the beginning?” the speakers used words like jumpstart, scale, revival and renaissance.
Mark Farrelly added “From the module business perspective, [the industry] will self-accelerate. If you provide us with the initial kickstart (like passing the IRA), then we start producing and investing in automation equipment which can drive costs lower…naturally that flywheel starts where now we’re even more appealing and further expansion can happen.
These kinds of buzzwords and perspectives like this invite excitement and positivity to the evolving landscape of solar power.
Nicola Sicchieri, when asked what the industry needs to do in order to keep up its current pace of growth answered “Nothing. It needs to stay the same. We need stable policy. We have great policy now.It’s the uncertainty of not knowing what is going to happen with the IRA, with tariffs that are causing concern or any hesitation. Everyone’s fear is what will happen in November. Give the industry some continuity and time for the IRA to settle in and allow momentum to grow.”
Imperial Star Adds 2 GWs of Domestic Product
In under 2 years, Imperial Star Solar has managed to announce plans to open a US factory, secure and build a facility, install production equipment and host a successful grand opening with plans to be fully operational in September of 2024.
Strong partnerships like those with Hanwha, CZT and Amphenol are what make the success and speed of achievements like this possible. Conversations like this roundtable session are important not just for Texas or the US solar industry but to a global renewables market which eyes the United States as an international leader in solar power.
Interested in touring the facility for yourself? Send an inquiry to sales@imperialstar.biz to get on the calendar for September.
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