Not All Solar Is Made in China. Here's Who Builds It in America.

Not All Solar Is Made in China. Here’s Who Builds It in America.

A homeowner’s guide to domestically manufactured solar panels — who makes them, where their factories are, and why it matters for your investment.

SOURCES: Manufacturer public filings · SEIA domestic content data · IRS IRA guidance · NREL PVWatts

Why Domestic Manufacturing Matters for Homeowners

The “made in China” objection is one of the most common concerns we hear from homeowners researching solar. It’s a fair question — and the answer is more nuanced than most installers will tell you.

The majority of solar panels installed in the U.S. today are manufactured overseas, predominantly in Southeast Asia. That is simply the current state of global solar supply chains, and there is nothing inherently wrong with a homeowner making that choice based on price.

However, there are three concrete reasons a homeowner might specifically seek out American-manufactured panels:

  • The IRA Domestic Content Bonus Credit. The Inflation Reduction Act added an additional 10% tax credit — on top of the base 30% — for solar systems that meet domestic content requirements for steel, iron, and manufactured products. For a $24,000 system, that is an additional $2,400 federal credit. See our Incentives page for details.
  • Supply chain and warranty reliability. Panels manufactured domestically are not subject to the same tariff volatility and logistics uncertainty as imported products. If a warranty claim arises, a company with U.S. manufacturing operations is generally easier to hold accountable.
  • American jobs and economic return. Choosing a panel manufactured in Ohio, Texas, or Georgia keeps more of your investment circulating in the domestic economy — a consideration some homeowners weigh explicitly.

IRA Domestic Content Bonus

Qualifying systems with U.S.-made panels may be eligible for an additional 10% federal tax credit beyond the standard 30% ITC.

+10% — Domestic content bonus credit on top of standard 30% ITC

American Solar Panel Manufacturers

The following companies operate manufacturing facilities on U.S. soil. Information is based on publicly available company data and SEIA filings.

First Solar — 🇺🇸 US FACTORY

Headquarters: Tempe, Arizona

Manufacturing: Alabama, Louisiana, Ohio (multiple), South Carolina (opening 2026)

Technology: Thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe)

Traded: NYSE: FSLR · Manufacturing in the U.S. since 2002

The largest American-owned solar manufacturer by volume — and the most compelling Made-in-America story in the industry. First Solar’s U.S. operations supported an estimated 29,600+ American jobs in 2025 at an average labor income of approximately $101,000 per worker. By 2027, the company is projected to support ~40,000 U.S. jobs and contribute $7.8 billion to GDP annually. Their thin-film technology performs particularly well in high-heat and diffuse-light conditions.

Mission Solar Energy — 100% US-MADE

Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas

Manufacturing: San Antonio, Texas

Technology: Monocrystalline PERC

Capacity: Up to 420W residential modules

Mission Solar is among the most straightforwardly “Made in USA” options — their panels are manufactured entirely in San Antonio. The company has a particular focus on high-efficiency residential and commercial modules, and is frequently cited in domestic content bonus credit discussions.

Silfab Solar — 🇺🇸 US FACTORY

Headquarters: Bellingham, Washington

Manufacturing: Bellingham, WA

Technology: Monocrystalline PERC

Note: Canadian parent company; US-manufactured

Silfab operates a manufacturing facility in Bellingham, Washington producing premium residential panels. Their modules are frequently specified by installers who need to demonstrate domestic manufacturing for incentive compliance. Parent company is Canadian, but the panels themselves are U.S.-made.

Hanwha Q CELLS — 🇺🇸 US FACTORY

Headquarters: Dalton, Georgia

Manufacturing: Dalton, Georgia

Technology: Q.PEAK DUO monocrystalline

Parent: Hanwha Group (South Korea)

Q CELLS opened one of the largest solar panel manufacturing plants in the United States in Dalton, Georgia. The facility employs several hundred Georgia workers and produces panels specifically marketed as U.S.-manufactured for domestic content eligibility. Korean parent company; American factory.

Auxin Solar — 🇺🇸 US FACTORY

Headquarters: San Jose, California

Manufacturing: San Jose, California

Technology: Monocrystalline

Focus: Tariff compliance, US content

Auxin Solar is a smaller manufacturer with a strong track record on domestic content compliance documentation — which matters specifically when pursuing the IRA domestic content bonus credit. Their San Jose facility has been the subject of trade compliance proceedings that ultimately reinforced their domestic manufacturing credentials.

SunPower (Maxeon) — PREMIUM EFFICIENCY

Headquarters: San Jose, California

Manufacturing: US assembly operations

Technology: IBC back-contact (highest efficiency)

Note: Cell manufacturing via Maxeon partnership

SunPower produces the highest-efficiency residential solar panels commercially available in the U.S. market — up to 22.8% module efficiency. Their supply chain involves U.S. assembly operations. For homeowners with limited roof space who need maximum power output per square foot, SunPower is the premium benchmark.

What to Ask Your Installer Before Signing

Most residential solar installers are honest businesses, but they are also salespeople with a preferred product catalog. If domestic manufacturing is a priority for you, be explicit about it. Here are five questions that will immediately clarify whether the proposed system qualifies.

✓ “Where were these specific panels manufactured?” Not just where the company is headquartered — where the physical panels were assembled. A U.S.-headquartered company may manufacture overseas.

✓ “What is the U.S.-origin content percentage of these panels?” The IRA domestic content bonus requires that manufactured products in the system meet specific U.S.-origin thresholds. Ask for documentation, not a verbal assurance.

✓ “Do these panels qualify for the IRA domestic content bonus credit?” Some installers will say “yes” without having done the analysis. Request a written statement or reference to the applicable IRS guidance (Notice 2023-29 and subsequent guidance).

✓ “If I want a U.S.-manufactured option, what does that do to the system price?” Domestic panels may carry a modest price premium. In most cases, the additional 10% ITC from the domestic content bonus offsets or exceeds that premium — run the math before deciding.

✓ “Who handles the warranty claim if these panels underperform in year 12?” Panel warranties are only as good as the company standing behind them. Verify that the manufacturer has a U.S. legal presence and a documented warranty claims process.

Manufacturer Quick Reference

At-a-glance comparison for homeowners evaluating American-made options.

ManufacturerHQ / FactoryTechnologyBest ForDomestic Content Eligible?
First SolarPerrysburg, OHThin-film CdTeLarge systems, hot climates✓ Likely
Mission SolarSan Antonio, TXMono PERC100% US content priority✓ Strong claim
SilfabBellingham, WAMono PERCPacific Northwest, premium residential✓ Likely
Q CELLS (Dalton)Dalton, GAMono PERCSoutheast homeowners, volume✓ Likely
Auxin SolarSan Jose, CAMonocrystallineStrict domestic content compliance✓ Strong claim
SunPowerUS assemblyIBC back-contactLimited roof space, max efficiencyVerify with installer

Domestic content eligibility is determined by IRS guidance and may change. Verify with a qualified tax professional before claiming the bonus credit.

DATA SOURCED FROM: NREL · U.S. EIA · SEIA · IRS.gov · Manufacturer public filings

Know What You Want. Now Run the Numbers.

Use our ROI calculator to see how the domestic content bonus credit affects your total system cost and payback period.