South Korea’s Qcells to Supply Microsoft With 12 GW of American-Made Solar Panels Through 2032
Qcells Agrees To Provide Microsoft With 12 GW of American-Made Solar Panels
South Korea’s Qcells has announced that it will be supplying Microsoft with 12 gigawatts of American-made solar panels through 2032. This deal marks one of the largest ever of its kind between the two companies.
Deal to Create Stable Demand for Qcells’ Panels
This agreement will ensure substantial and stable demand for panels that Qcells will produce at its new $2.5 billion Georgia factory. The deal will also assist Microsoft in reaching its goal of powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, reducing supply chain risks.
Microsoft’s Strategic Move to Fulfill Green Energy Goals
Microsoft’s vice president for energy, Bobby Hollis, emphasized the importance of choosing a reliable panel provider, stating, “How do we really make sure that we can meet those goals in this kind of an environment, as we see others coming in and doing the same thing? We have to really undertake things in a very strategic and thoughtful way.”
Expanded Commitment to 12 GW by Microsoft
The collaboration between Qcells and Microsoft began a year ago with a 2.5-gigawatt contract, and it has now expanded to an impressive 12 gigawatts. This commitment is enough to power about 1.8 million homes, signifying a major leap in Microsoft’s sustainability efforts.
Qcells Aims to Establish a US-Based Solar Supply Chain
Qcells sees the collaboration with Microsoft as an opportunity to compete with China in establishing a solar supply chain in the United States. This move is vital for reducing reliance on overseas-produced goods and aligns with President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act incentives aimed at bolstering US production of clean energy components.
“We are the only ones that are really building up the full supply chain. And this is thanks to the partnership that we’re having with Microsoft,” said Jihyun Kim, an executive vice president at Qcells, a division of Hanwha Solutions Corp.
