Image: Heliene
Canadian solar manufacturer Heliene has officially opened a new 500MW solar module assembly plant in Rogers, Minnesota, marking a significant step in its mission to strengthen U.S. solar manufacturing and supply chains. This facility is Heliene’s third operational manufacturing line in the U.S. and its third in the state of Minnesota.
The company now operates a total of 1.3GW of annual nameplate capacity in the United States. The other two lines are located in Mountain Iron, Minnesota, with capacities of 300MW and 500MW, respectively. The 300MW line was upgraded in 2023 to manufacture TOPCon high-efficiency modules, reflecting Heliene’s ongoing commitment to advanced solar technologies.
Across its U.S. facilities, Heliene produces bifacial, high-efficiency crystalline PV modules with a strong focus on domestic content. To achieve this, the company has formed several strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Suniva and Corning. Together, these companies are building a fully U.S.-based solar supply chain—from polysilicon and wafers to cells and modules—supporting both local production and federal domestic content goals.
In addition to these efforts, Heliene has partnered with Origami Solar, a U.S.-based PV steel frame producer, and Solarcycle, a solar recycling firm. Since April 2025, Heliene customers can select U.S.-made steel frames for its 144 and 156 half-cut bifacial modules, complementing the traditional aluminum options. Meanwhile, Solarcycle is set to supply 4GW of recycled solar glass over the next five years, further boosting Heliene’s sustainability initiatives.
To support the new plant in Rogers, Heliene has secured US$2.3 million in funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Funding sources include the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF), Minnesota Job Creation Fund (JCF), and the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP). These programs will help create over 220 new jobs at the facility.
Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene, commented: “By nearly doubling our manufacturing capacity at our new Rogers, Minnesota facility, we can continue to provide best-in-class fully domestic content products and service to our customers, while we deliver on our broader goal of onshoring U.S. solar supply chains, by incorporating domestically-produced cells, frames, polymers and other critical components.”
The launch of this facility follows Heliene’s 2023 announcement of plans to build nearly 1GW of module assembly and 1.5GW of solar cell production capacity in the U.S. To support these ambitions, the company secured over US$50 million in tax credit transfer sales in September 2024, providing financial momentum for its expansion.
With the opening of its new Minnesota plant, Heliene strengthens its role as a key player in the U.S. solar industry’s domestic resurgence.
