Mississippi Silicon LLC, a global producer of silicon metal, is working with REC Silicon to help establish a low-carbon and fully traceable U.S.-based solar supply chain. The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing them to negotiate a raw material supply agreement.
Recent investment by the Hanwha Group into REC Silicon, in conjunction with Hanwha’s subsidiary Qcells, moves REC to expand its relationship with Mississippi Silicon to support the development of an end-to-end U.S. solar supply chain from silicon metal and polysilicon to fully assembled solar modules. The plan follows the passage of the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act (SEMA) as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, expanding U.S. production of polysilicon and metallurgical grade silicon.
Located in the northeast corner of Mississippi State, the Mississippi Silicon facility is strategically placed to take advantage of a growing domestic customer base, stable low-cost electricity, and a regional supply chain.
REC is as a producer of high-purity electronics and solar grade polysilicon with assets in Moses Lake, Wash. and Butte, Mont. The recent Hanwha investment will enable a re-start of the currently idle Moses Lake plant in 2023 and make available high volumes of low-carbon, solar-grade polysilicon. REC shut down the Moses Lake plant in 2019 due to unfavorable global market conditions.
“Mississippi Silicon was founded nearly 10 years ago to be a domestic source of high-quality silicon metal to the U.S. solar, electronics and chemical industries,” says Eddie Boardwine, CEO of Mississippi Silicon. “We are pleased by the growing recognition of the importance of a strong end-to-end U.S. supply chain for these materials. Passage of the SEMA Act is critical to bringing that supply chain to reality. We look forward to working with REC Silicon to strengthen our existing relationship and build out that vital supply chain.”
“A robust solar energy industry in the U.S. is crucial to our national security and clean energy goals,” comments James A. May II, CEO of REC Silicon. “Now that SEMA has passed as part of a broad clean energy incentive package, the solar manufacturing industry is in a position to make long-term investments that create millions of new career opportunities in cities and towns across the country and accelerate the transition to clean energy.”
