NexWafe and Talon PV Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance US Solar Manufacturing
In a significant development for the renewable energy sector, German solar wafer manufacturer NexWafe and US-based cell producer Talon PV have announced a landmark wafer supply agreement. This collaboration aims to bolster solar cell production within the United States, specifically focusing on advanced TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) technology.
7GW Wafer Supply to Fuel Texas-Based Production
Under the terms of the agreement, NexWafe will supply nearly 7 gigawatts (GW) of its advanced wafers to support Talon PV’s 4.8GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing plant located in Baytown, Texas. This substantial supply will be crucial in meeting the growing demand for high-efficiency solar cells in the US market.
Addressing Challenges in the Solar Cell Landscape
Talon PV previously discussed its ambitious plans to establish a TOPCon solar cell processing plant with PV Tech Premium last October, highlighting the challenges inherent in navigating a competitive landscape often marked by patent disputes. This partnership with NexWafe represents a key step in overcoming these hurdles and accelerating production.
EpiNex Technology and Collaborative Development
NexWafe will initially supply wafers from its pilot-scale operation in Bitterfeld, Germany. The companies also plan to collaborate on technical development and qualification efforts to enhance TOPCon cell performance. This will leverage NexWafe’s proprietary direct gas-to-wafer manufacturing method, known as EpiNex, focusing on improving wafer material quality, reducing oxygen content, and advancing junction engineering for higher efficiency and long-term reliability in N-type solar cells.
Building a Transatlantic Solar Ecosystem
“This agreement with Talon PV represents an important step toward building a next-generation wafer-to-cell ecosystem spanning Germany and the US,” stated Davor Sutija, PhD, CEO of NexWafe. “NexWafe is committed to enabling high-efficiency solar manufacturing through advanced substrates, and we look forward to working with Talon to qualify EpiNex wafers and further push the performance frontier for TOPCon solar cells.”
Strategic Partnerships and Fraunhofer ISE Collaboration
Interestingly, despite being a US-based company, Talon PV has recently partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, Germany, to establish a TOPCon pilot line. NexWafe’s initial EpiNex wafer qualification work will also be conducted at Fraunhofer ISE, demonstrating a strong transatlantic collaboration.
Looking Ahead: Expansion and Future Growth
The partnership is contingent upon finalizing long-term supply documentation and completing technical qualification and investment requirements. NexWafe anticipates that this collaboration could pave the way for future multi-gigawatt manufacturing expansion within the US, potentially through partnerships with other established industry players.
SolarPLUS USA 2026: The Future of Solar
The evolution of the solar industry is reflected in the rebranding of Large Scale Solar USA to SolarPLUS USA. The 2026 edition, taking place in Dallas, Texas, on March 24-25, will focus on critical topics such as hybrid asset management, multi-state pipelines, increasing power demand from data centers and AI, and the co-location of solar PV with energy storage. Visit the website for more information and registration details.
