SPI Energy, the company behind the Solar4America solar panel brand that had plans for increased silicon solar supply chain manufacturing in the United States, has taken steps to file Chapter 15 bankruptcy in the United States. The company has insolvency proceedings pending in the Cayman Islands, and its appointed liquidators have filed appropriate petitions in the United States for bankruptcy relief.
SPI Energy first significantly entered the U.S. solar market in 2021 after buying a list of residential solar installation contracts from bankrupt installer PetersenDean. Along with the contracts came PetersenDean’s brand name of “Solar4America.” SPI Energy then acquired a solar panel assembly facility in Sacramento, California, formerly operated by Sunergy. SPI Energy chose to operate the facility under the Solar4America name.
Solar4America likely never exceeded 750 MW of annual manufacturing capacity at the Sacramento plant. The site reportedly closed in early 2025. SPI Energy also planned to open a wafer and cell manufacturing facility in Sumter, South Carolina. The site never panned out.
In the Chapter 15 petition, the appointed liquidators stated that in 2022, SPI Energy listed assets of $231 million with revenue of $271 million. The company operated three core divisions: Solarjuice, SPI Solar/Orange Power, EdisonFutures/Phoenix Motors EV. The company mainly focused on Australia and North America.
SPI Energy was delisted from the NASDAQ stock market in January 2025 and officially began liquidation efforts in July. Efforts are still ongoing. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware has scheduled a hearing for May 27, 2026.
Local media reported last year that new name Amerisun was taking over the solar panel factory in Sacramento. Solar Power World research found Amerisun to be using other companies’ spec sheets and likely not manufacturing at the site.
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