Bila Solar, a US-based photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, has recently entered into a strategic partnership with Origami Solar, a domestic steel frame maker.
According to the partnership, Origami Solar will supply its steel frames to Bila Solar. These frames will be paired with the latter’s 550 W glass-glass PV module, which also features cells made in the USA. While the aluminum frame-based module, also consisting of US-made cells, is readily available, buyers need to place a special request for the steel-frame-based counterpart. According to the module maker, US-based developers are currently looking to procure domestically produced modules to mitigate the uncertainty coming from rapidly shifting tariffs with subsequent rising import prices. It added that the industry is also witnessing a reshuffling of the global solar supply chain.
In April, the US imposed anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) on PV cell and module imports from Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam (see Over 3,000% Final AD/CVD Tariffs On Southeast Asian Solar Products). Fueling the uncertainty, in August, the ambit of this investigation was broadened to India, Indonesia, and Laos (see US Investigates Solar Imports From Laos, Indonesia & India).
Additionally, the Trump administration recently imposed a tariff rate of up to 50% on imported aluminum and steel-based products. This makes the domestically procured frame an economical option and offers a stable local supply chain for US PV module makers, explained Bila Solar (see Origami Solar Launches Solar Module Steel Frame Factory In US).
Bila Solar Vice President and General Manager Mick McDaniel said, “Our mission has always been to build a resilient domestic solar ecosystem. By integrating Origami’s innovative and remarkably stronger steel frames and pairing them with U.S.-manufactured solar cells, we not only offer a stronger, more reliable module but also provide customers with increased domestic content to facilitate access to the 10% domestic content bonus adder.”
In this context, under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) 2022, solar developers and installers that source iron and steel-based products from domestic producers can receive up to a 10% bonus on top of a 30% investment tax credit (ITC) or production tax credit (PTC) when completing projects. However, following the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025, which prematurely ends the ITC and PTC, several developers are expected to rush to start their projects within 12 months from the enactment date to avail the credits (see OBBB On President Trump’s Desk After Final House Passage).
In addition to the aforementioned advantages of this collaboration, the company highlighted a few points from a product reliability perspective. The inclusion of a steel frame with a corrosion-resistant coating supports installation in hot and humid environments that are susceptible to corrosion. Additionally, the module has higher mechanical strength compared to its standard aluminum-frame-based peers, although this was not quantified by Bila Solar.
According to the press release, this new module is expected to be commercially available by the 2nd quarter of 2026.
