Image: Corning

T1 Energy has signed a supply agreement with Corning to purchase purified polysilicon and solar wafers produced at Corning’s Michigan manufacturing campus, marking a significant step toward vertical integration in the U.S. solar industry.

Beginning in the second half of 2026, Corning wafers will be delivered to T1 Energy’s solar cell facility in Austin, Texas. The Austin site will produce advanced TOPCon solar cells, which will then be shipped to T1’s Dallas facility for module assembly.

A fully domestic solar supply chain remains rare in the United States due to capacity bottlenecks at certain stages of production. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the country currently has 25 GW of polysilicon refining capacity, 2 GW of solar cell capacity, and 57.5 GW of module assembly capacity—but lacks both polysilicon ingot and wafer production.

SEIA reports that new investments are beginning to close these gaps, with 8.3 GW of ingot and wafer capacity, 19.3 GW of cell capacity, and 15.3 GW of module capacity currently under construction.

“The U.S. needs to establish critical energy supply chains built on domestic capacity and industrial know-how,” said Daniel Barcelo, chief executive officer and board chair of T1 Energy. “Together with Corning, we intend to accelerate America’s ability to manufacture leading-edge solar solutions, support a total of nearly 6,000 American jobs, and promote American energy independence.”

Corning is investing $1.5 billion in its Michigan polysilicon and wafer facility, a project expected to create 1,500 jobs. Meanwhile, T1 Energy has announced an $850 million investment in its G2 Austin solar cell factory, which is scheduled to begin production in the second half of 2026. The facility is designed to reach an annual output of 5 GW and is expected to create up to 1,800 full-time jobs.