Illuminate USA
Illuminate USA is a Pataskala, Ohio-based solar panel manufacturer — a 2023 Invenergy/LONGi joint venture operating the largest single-site solar panel plant in North America, producing 550W bifacial panels at 5 GW nameplate capacity for utility-scale developers, municipal, and commercial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersPataskala, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Illuminate USA does
Illuminate USA is an American advanced solar panel manufacturer founded in 2023 as a joint venture between Invenergy (majority owner and North America's largest independent power producer) and LONGi (the world's largest Chinese solar panel manufacturer). Headquartered at a 1.1 million square foot manufacturing facility in Pataskala, Ohio, the company operates the largest single-site solar panel manufacturing plant in North America, with annual nameplate capacity of 9.2 million panels (5 gigawatts) — enough to power approximately 1 million American homes. As of April 2026, the company employed more than 1,600 associates and had cumulatively produced over 13 million solar panels since founding.
The company's sole commercial product line is high-efficiency 550W bifacial solar panels manufactured using LONGi's advanced panel assembly technology. The bifacial architecture enables electricity generation from both the front and rear panel surfaces, increasing yield relative to monofacial alternatives. Each panel measures approximately 7.5 feet by 3.7 feet, weighs about 72 pounds, and is built with silicon cells in aluminum frames with glass casings. The product carries a 30-year linear power output warranty and a 12-year materials and processing warranty, and is certified to IEC 61215, IEC 61730/UL 61730, IEC 62941, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018. Production runs across 8 lines at an expected rate exceeding 1,000 panels per hour, with end-of-life recyclability of up to 95% of materials and hail-resistance design.
Revenue is generated exclusively through direct B2B sales of solar panels to three customer categories: utility-scale solar developers (primary, anchored by Invenergy), municipal and government entities, and commercial enterprises. Invenergy — the parent and majority owner — serves as anchor off-take, with documented projects including 260,000-panel supply for the 250 MW Hardin County solar center. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; transactions are structured as direct sales agreements. Revenue benefits from Inflation Reduction Act manufacturing tax credits for domestic production. The company does not disclose financials publicly, but indicates continued operational growth, expansion of supplier partnerships (including a five-year SOLARCYCLE deal for domestic solar glass from recycled panels), and a recent CEO transition from founder Frank Zhu to Art Fletcher (April 2026).
Illuminate USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Illuminate USA
- Legal name
- ILLUMINATE USA LLC
- Website
- https://illuminateusa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Illuminate USA is a Pataskala, Ohio-based solar panel manufacturer — a 2023 Invenergy/LONGi joint venture operating the largest single-site solar panel plant in North America, producing 550W bifacial panels at 5 GW nameplate capacity for utility-scale developers, municipal, and commercial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Illuminate USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Panel Manufacturing
- SIC
- Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK), Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)
Keywords
Where Illuminate USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pataskala
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Illuminate USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Solar Panel Sales: Illuminate USA generates revenue by manufacturing and selling high-efficiency bifacial solar panels to utility-scale solar project developers, municipalities, and commercial customers. The company sells panels directly through sales agreements with anchor customers like Invenergy and other solar developers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Illuminate USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Illuminate USA manufactures and sells high-efficiency 550W bifacial solar panels at its 1.1 million-square-foot Pataskala, Ohio facility—the largest single-site solar panel manufacturing facility in North America with 5GW (9.2 million panels) annual capacity. Panels are built with silicon cells in aluminum frames with glass casings and are warranted for 30 years of linear power output and 12 years for materials and processing. The company sells these American-made panels to utility-scale solar developers (including anchor customer Invenergy), municipal governments, and commercial customers.
Product overview
Illuminate USA is an American advanced solar panel manufacturing company producing high-efficiency bifacial solar panels (550W) at its 1.1-million-square-foot facility in Pataskala, Ohio. The company operates as the largest single-site solar panel manufacturing facility in North America with annual capacity of 9.2 million panels (5GW). Their product portfolio centers on the Illuminate USA Bifacial Solar Panels, which are designed for both rooftop/residential and utility-scale applications. Panels are warranted for 12 years (materials and processing) and 30 years (linear power output), with certifications including IEC 61215, IEC 61730, UL 61730, ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015, ISO45001:2018, and IEC62941. The company recently entered a five-year partnership with SOLARCYCLE for domestic solar glass sourced from recycled panels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Illuminate USA Bifacial Solar Panels High-efficiency 550W bifacial solar panels manufactured in Pataskala, Ohio using advanced panel assembly technology. Built with silicon cells in aluminum frames with glass casings, panels are hail-resistant, up to 95% recyclable at end of life, and come with a 30-year warranty for linear power output and 12-year warranty for materials and processing. Designed for utility-scale solar farms as well as rooftop (residential) and commercial applications, sold to utility developers, municipal governments, and commercial customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2GW of energy generated in first year of production (2024)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Illuminate USA
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Illuminate USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Illuminate USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- SOLARCYCLEflagshipIlluminate USA entered a landmark five-year agreement to source high-performance, American-made solar glass from SOLARCYCLE. This partnership produces specialized solar glass from recycled panels at SOLARCYCLE's Cedartown, Georgia facility. The agreement provides enough glass to power 15 gigawatts of solar panels, setting a new standard as the first in the nation to produce specialized solar glass from recycled panels.
- LONGicoreLONGi is a Chinese solar panel manufacturer and the world's largest solar panel manufacturer. It serves as Illuminate USA's manufacturing technology partner in the joint venture. LONGi provides advanced solar panel technology and manufacturing expertise, while Invenergy provides the market access and anchor demand. Illuminate USA is a joint venture between Invenergy and LONGi.
- JobsOhiocoreJobsOhio is Ohio's state economic development organization that partnered with Illuminate USA to develop training, skills development programs, and support recruiting efforts. JobsOhio provided financial support for the project and continues to promote Ohio as a manufacturing hub.
- One ColumbuscoreOne Columbus partnered with Illuminate USA for economic development support, including training programs, skills development, and recruiting assistance for the Pataskala manufacturing facility.
- Ohio Means JobsminorWorkforce development organization that partnered with Illuminate USA for initial hiring and recruitment of associates at the Pataskala facility.
- IMPACT Community ActionminorCommunity action agency that partnered with Illuminate USA for workforce recruitment and hiring support.
- GROW Licking CountyminorLocal economic development organization in Licking County that supported Illuminate USA's hiring and recruitment efforts.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Illuminate USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- First Solar: First Solar is the largest US-headquartered solar panel manufacturer, producing thin-film cadmium telluride modules primarily for utility-scale projects. It competes directly with Illuminate USA for utility-scale customers, IRA-driven domestic content premiums, and policy-supported manufacturing incentives in the US market.
- Hanwha Q CELLS: Hanwha Q CELLS is one of the world's largest solar manufacturers with a major US production footprint in Dalton, Georgia. It produces crystalline silicon modules for utility, commercial, and residential markets, making it a direct domestic competitor to Illuminate USA across overlapping customer segments.
- Canadian Solar: Canadian Solar is a major global manufacturer of solar PV modules with established US manufacturing operations. It serves utility-scale and distributed generation customers in the US, directly competing with Illuminate USA for domestic-content-qualified solar projects.
- Mission Solar Energy: Mission Solar Energy is a US-based manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar panels headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It serves utility-scale and commercial customers in the US, directly competing with Illuminate USA for domestic content-driven solar procurement opportunities.
Broad incumbents
- JinkoSolar: JinkoSolar is consistently among the top global solar module suppliers by volume. It produces crystalline silicon PV modules across utility, commercial, and residential segments globally — including into the US market — representing broad competitive pressure on Illuminate USA's positioning.
- Trina Solar: Trina Solar is a major global solar panel manufacturer with US sales presence. It serves utility-scale, commercial, and residential markets worldwide and is among the largest module suppliers globally, representing an established incumbent competitor across Illuminate USA's addressable markets.
- JA Solar: JA Solar is a major global manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar modules. It serves utility, commercial, and residential customers worldwide and ranks among the top global module suppliers, representing broad-based competitive pressure on Illuminate USA's market positioning.
- REC Group: REC Group is a Norwegian-headquartered premium solar panel manufacturer with established US distribution. It produces crystalline silicon modules primarily for residential and commercial markets, representing an established international competitor in the broader US solar landscape.
Emerging players
- Maxeon Solar Technologies: Maxeon Solar Technologies is a Singapore-headquartered manufacturer specializing in premium high-efficiency back-contact PV modules. It primarily targets residential and commercial markets with US operations, representing an emerging peer in the higher-efficiency segment of the US solar market.
- SunPower: SunPower is a US-based residential solar company with a strong domestic brand and customer base. Following its 2024 restructuring it now sources panels externally, but remains a notable adjacent peer in the US distributed solar value chain where Illuminate USA also competes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Illuminate USA social profiles
Digital presenceIlluminate USA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Illuminate USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Illuminate USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Illuminate USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Illuminate USA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Illuminate USA
What does Illuminate USA do?
Illuminate USA manufactures and sells high-efficiency 550W bifacial solar panels at its 1.1 million-square-foot Pataskala, Ohio facility—the largest single-site solar panel manufacturing facility in North America with 5GW (9.2 million panels) annual capacity. Panels are built with silicon cells in aluminum frames with glass casings and are warranted for 30 years of linear power output and 12 years for materials and processing. The company sells these American-made panels to utility-scale solar developers (including anchor customer Invenergy), municipal governments, and commercial customers.
Is Illuminate USA a public or private company?
Illuminate USA is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Illuminate USA founded?
Illuminate USA was founded in 2023. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Illuminate USA based?
Illuminate USA is headquartered in Pataskala, United States, in the North America region.
How does Illuminate USA make money?
One revenue line is on record: solar Panel Sales.
Who are Illuminate USA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are First Solar, Hanwha Q CELLS, Canadian Solar and Mission Solar Energy. Broad incumbents are JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, JA Solar and REC Group. Emerging players are Maxeon Solar Technologies and SunPower.
Does Illuminate USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Illuminate USA.
What industry is Illuminate USA in?
Illuminate USA's product category is Solar Panel Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAD, Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film), with a secondary code of EUACAGAK, Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats). Its SIC code is 3620.