Illuminate USA Signs Five-Year Deal with SOLARCYCLE for Solar Glass Supply

According to an official joint statement, Illuminate USA — the largest single-site solar panel manufacturer in North America — has entered into a landmark five-year supply agreement with SOLARCYCLE to source domestically produced solar glass. The material will support the production of approximately 3 gigawatts (GW) of solar panels annually at Illuminate USA’s advanced facility in Pataskala, Ohio. Industry sources noted that this multi-year deal will make Illuminate USA the largest customer for SOLARCYCLE’s upcoming solar glass factory in Cedartown, Georgia.

According to SOLARCYCLE’s official website, the company will manufacture the glass using recycled materials recovered from decommissioned solar panels, a move aimed at reinforcing the circular economy within the U.S. clean energy sector. Suvi Sharma, CEO and co-founder of SOLARCYCLE, said the agreement sends a “meaningful signal” to the market about the resilience and future growth of domestic solar manufacturing, despite current policy challenges. “There is still significant market demand for high-quality, domestically manufactured materials that support U.S. solar manufacturing,” Sharma added, welcoming Illuminate USA as the anchor customer for what is expected to be the first solar glass factory of its kind in America.

Illuminate USA, which produces bifacial solar panels designed to capture sunlight on both sides for higher energy output, emphasized that the company’s dedication to quality begins with sourcing premium materials. “High-performance solar glass is vital to boosting panel efficiency,” CEO Frank Zhu said, adding that SOLARCYCLE’s shared commitment to quality, sustainability, and strengthening the domestic solar supply chain aligns perfectly with their mission to create skilled jobs in the U.S.

According to company updates, SOLARCYCLE’s planned Cedartown facility is already shovel-ready, with production capacity nearly fully reserved through long-term contracts. The company is working to secure the final investments needed to begin construction, with initial deliveries of solar glass targeted for early 2028. Once operational, the factory is set to become the first in the nation to produce specialized glass for crystalline-silicon solar panels — and the first globally to use recycled glass cullet from retired solar panels as a core manufacturing input.

Source: Solarcycle