T1 Energy to source Corning wafers from Michigan manufacturing campus

• T1 Energy signs an agreement to procure polysilicon and solar wafers produced by Corning at its Michigan campus, aiming to strengthen US-based PV supply chains.

T1 Energy Inc (NYSE:TE) has struck a supply deal with specialty materials leader Corning Inc (NYSE:GLW) to source polysilicon and solar wafers manufactured at Corning’s Michigan campus. The agreement is designed to deepen T1 Energy’s domestic supply base while supporting a broader push to localize critical steps in the PV value chain.

Under the arrangement, Corning will provide upstream inputs—polysilicon and wafers—that feed directly into cell and module production. For T1 Energy, securing reliable wafer volumes close to home can reduce logistics risk, shorten lead times and improve traceability—factors that matter for utility-scale projects with tight delivery schedules and for customers prioritizing US content.

The move comes as North American developers seek to diversify procurement beyond far-flung suppliers. While price remains a dominant lever in solar, total cost of ownership increasingly includes freight, insurance, currency exposure and policy-driven incentives that reward domestic manufacturing. Pairing US-made wafers with regional cell and module assembly can help projects qualify for additional credits, strengthening their competitiveness.

From a technology perspective, consistent wafer quality underpins yield in cell lines and reliability in the field. Close collaboration between materials engineers and downstream manufacturers can smooth changeovers to new wafer specs and facilitate joint qualification testing—translating into fewer production stops and better throughput.

For Corning, the partnership signals the adaptability of its precision manufacturing capabilities to the solar sector’s needs. For T1 Energy, it lays groundwork for a more resilient, transparent supply chain at a time when demand for low-carbon electricity—and scrutiny of inputs used to produce it—continues to rise.