Corning Acquires JA Solar’s $60 Million Arizona Plant Expands US Solar Manufacturing Chain

Corning Incorporated has acquired JA Solar’s Arizona module facility, integrating it into its wholly owned subsidiary, American Panel Solutions. The transaction, completed on April 4, 2025, marks a major move as Corning strengthens its vertically integrated solar manufacturing footprint in the US.

JA Solar initially invested $60 million to build the 2GW plant in Phoenix, aiming for a 2023 launch, but capacity ramp-up only began in late 2024. According to disclosure documents, JA Solar Industrial Corp. sold 100% equity in the Arizona plant to Corning. This makes JA Solar the second major Chinese photovoltaic player to exit the US module market, following Trina Solar’s sale of its 5GW US plant to FREYR Battery in late 2024.

Founded in 1851, Corning is a Fortune 500 leader in specialty glass and ceramics, boasting over 160 years of innovation in material science and advanced manufacturing. The Arizona acquisition will further solidify Corning’s US solar supply chain. Last year, Corning announced a Michigan-based wafer facility, and in March, it joined forces with Sunniva and Heliene to build a fully domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem: Corning supplies polysilicon and wafers, Sunniva makes cells in Georgia, and Heliene assembles the final modules.

This aggressive expansion signals Corning’s commitment to onshore solar production and supply chain resilience in the face of global competition.