The agreements were signed with Ohio steel producer Welser Profile and Texas-based Priefert and Unimax.

Origami says the deals will enable it to ship steel solar panel frames to U.S. customers in the first quarter of 2025. The steel frames offer a more sustainable and durable alternative to standard aluminum frames.

“We have energy-efficient steel mills and world-class manufacturers to produce all the solar frames America needs,” said Gregg Patterson, CEO of Origami Solar. “With our newly announced partnership and domestic supply chain, there is simply no reason for the solar industry to accept the significant risk that comes with imported aluminum frames.”

Our customers should not be forced to accept delayed frames due to shipping issues, disputes or seizures, or the possibility that geopolitical tensions could cut off frame supplies entirely, he continued.

They also should not be forced to accept the risk of increasing tariffs or the risk of aluminum frames that are not strong enough to support the growing size of solar panels. Now, the solar industry can avoid that risk entirely. ”

The United States has a large, mature and well-supported steel industry. A shift to steel structures could theoretically provide the solar supply chain with insurance against ongoing trade disputes and tariff investigations.

In an interview with PV Tech Premium earlier this year, Patterson said that “ample” steel supplies in the United States and Europe have the potential to provide insurance for solar supply to meet these trade challenges.

At the same time, there is also a growing concern about the quality of solar panels on the market and in use. Reports show that defects and damage to solar panels have increased over the past year, most recently demonstrated by the PVEL Module Reliability Scorecard. In addition, severe weather has also had an impact on solar panels deployed on the ground.

Origami said that steel frames can increase the strength of the panels and create a more durable product.trina solar panels