Atlanta, GA (November 21, 2024) — SOLARCYCLE today announced a multi-year agreement with Genesis Alkali to purchase EcosodaTM, a low-carbon natural soda ash produced near Green River, Wyoming, to help facilitate the production of ultra-low carbon domestic solar glass at its factory in Cedartown, Georgia.
Soda ash is an essential raw material used in solar glass production. According to Genesis Alkali, naturally produced soda ash is approximately 37% less greenhouse gas intensive than compared to synthetically produced soda ash that is used by most solar glass producers overseas. EcosodaTM, produced at Genesis Alkali’s recently expanded Granger facility, has an even lower greenhouse gas footprint than traditionally mined natural soda ash due to its proprietary solution mining and processing technology that was originally developed by Genesis Alkali and its predecessor companies over 25 years ago. SOLARCYCLE will combine EcosodaTM with glass from recycled solar panels to produce domestic ultra-low carbon solar glass and further enhance the environmental benefits for its solar panel manufacturing customers.
SOLARCYCLE announced its five-gigawatt solar glass factory in Cedartown, Georgia in February 2024. The factory positions the company to be the only manufacturer of specialized glass for crystalline-silicon (c-Si) photovoltaics in North America and the first to use recycled materials from retired solar panels to make new solar glass. By using locally produced materials and recycled glass, SOLARCYCLE will save material costs, eliminate shipping and trade risks, and reduce energy consumption. These benefits allow the company to manufacture American-made solar glass that can compete with imported solar glass.
The glass will be sold directly to domestic solar manufacturers and fill a critical gap in the country’s supply chain to build more solar panels in America. Earlier this year, SOLARCYCLE announced partnerships with Runergy and Heliene Inc., who will purchase the company’s ultra-low carbon domestic glass to produce the next generation of American-made solar modules.
“Producing high-performance solar glass in Cedartown, Georgia will help America re-shore a critical piece of the solar supply chain. It will also reduce trade risk, promote innovation, and help solar manufacturers looking to benefit from domestic content clean energy tax credits,” said Suvi Sharma, CEO and co-founder of SOLARCYCLE. “Our agreement with Genesis Alkali is a key part of onshoring the supply chain to build solar in the US.”
“Genesis Alkali is uniquely positioned to reliably supply SOLARCYCLE from our trona mining and processing sites near Green River, Wyoming where we have been operating for over 75 years,” said Ed Flynn, President of Genesis Alkali. “This agreement with SOLARCYCLE is a direct result of the investments we have made in our Granger facility to increase the production of low-carbon EcosodaTM to meet the growing demand from soda ash customers around the world who are looking to reduce their Scope 3 GHG emissions.”
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About SOLARCYCLE
SOLARCYCLE is leading the growth of the circular economy for solar in America. The company partners with the nation’s largest asset owners and manufacturers to recycle solar panels, recover valuable materials, and make key components for the next generation of solar panels and clean energy products. Through its circular economy solutions, SOLARCYCLE enhances the sustainability and resiliency of the solar supply chain in the US. Learn more at www.SOLARCYCLE.us.
About Genesis Alkali
Genesis Alkali, a leading producer of natural soda ash in the United States, is a subsidiary of Genesis Energy, L.P. Learn more at www.genesisalkali.com.
Genesis Energy, L.P. (NYSE: GEL) is a diversified midstream energy master limited partnership headquartered in Houston, Texas. Genesis’ operations include offshore pipeline transportation, sodium minerals and sulfur services, marine transportation and onshore facilities and transportation. Genesis’ operations are primarily located in the Gulf Coast region of the United States, Wyoming, and the Gulf of Mexico.
