Heliene takes over SolarTech Universal’s lease on Florida solar panel manufacturing plant

Heliene, a North American solar panel manufacturer with facilities in Minnesota and Ontario, Canada, is moving into the commercial warehouse location previously occupied by SolarTech Universal in Riviera Beach, Florida. Heliene will begin manufacturing operations at the 100-MW Florida facility in September 2021.

SolarTech Universal set up in Florida in 2015 and made 60-cell solar panels using Meyer Burger’s patented SmartWire Technology. SolarTech was the only U.S. manufacturer of heterojunction technology (HJT) panels in the last five years, and Heliene will continue using the advanced manufacturing process.

Heliene reps confirmed to Solar Power World that the company did not acquire the HJT process from SolarTech Universal but has “developed its own bill of materials with specific microwire technology and…incorporated the development and long term reliability analysis of HJT products, bottom-up from its components,” and therefore is using its own IP.

Along with its 140-MW facility in Mountain Iron, Minnesota, Heliene will now have a total of 240 MW of U.S. panel production capacity.

See a list of all U.S. solar panel assembly and manufacturing companies here.

“With the launch of the Florida facility, Heliene is strongly positioned to meet the significant forecasted demand for residential and commercial solar in the U.S. through our industry-leading module technology and manufacturing efficiency,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. “Heterojunction module technology changes the economics of solar, giving our customers greater production density when designing residential and commercial installations. Delivering the most superior products available with a just-in-time solution and always-available customer support is critical to our strategy to increase clean energy access across North America.”

Heliene’s 66-cell HJT 370-W module uses multiwire technology and 18 round microwires in place of traditional flat busbars, which reduces shading on the solar cells, resulting in higher power.

The 75,000-sq. ft Riviera Beach facility will create over 60 new jobs for Heliene.

Heliene is currently accepting orders for the 66-cell HJT module.