Hanwha Qcells expands partnership with SRE for energy supply

[Courtesy of Hanwha Qcells]

Hanwha Qcells, a subsidiary of Hanwha Solutions, has signed a partnership agreement with Summit Ridge Energy (SRE), a U.S.-based commercial solar energy developer, on the supply of 2 gigawatts (GW) of solar modules and collaboration on energy storage system (ESS) projects through 2027.

This partnership builds upon a previous agreement announced in April last year when U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Hanwha Qcells’ solar module factory in Dalton, Georgia. The initial agreement for the supply of 1.2GW of solar modules has now been expanded by an additional 800 megawatts (MW).

Under this new agreement, SRE plans to use the additional 800MW of solar modules for over 100 community solar projects across the United States.

Community solar projects allow local residents to pool their investment to build solar power plants, sharing the benefits collectively.

This model enables participation from low-income households that might otherwise struggle with the upfront costs of solar energy, making it a new approach for equitable renewable energy transition.

[Courtesy of Hanwha Qcells]

The module supply agreement between Hanwha Qcells and SRE is the largest of its kind in the U.S. community solar sector to date.

The partnership also includes the supply of ESS equipment and energy management system (EMS) software by Hanwha Qcells to SRE.

The EMS provided by Hanwha Qcells is designed to optimize the operation of ESS by taking into account energy consumption patterns and electricity price fluctuations. Utilizing artificial intelligence, this software aims to enhance both the energy efficiency of users and the economic viability of power plants.