What Hounen Solar does

Hounen Solar America Inc. is a U.S.-based solar module manufacturer founded in 2022 that began domestic operations in 2023 following a $33 million investment. The company operates a 1GW annual capacity module assembly facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, and supports distribution through owned warehouses in California and a 476,280-square-foot industrial facility acquired in Wellford, South Carolina in late 2025. Its product portfolio spans monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic modules using both N-TYPE and P-TYPE cell architectures, including HJT, PERC, and emerging Perovskite technologies, with power ratings from 395W residential modules up to 725W utility-scale units and efficiencies reaching 23.34% in the flagship HNM8-GPLDD132 series. All modules are CSA certified and carry 25-30 year warranties, with anti-PID resistance and bifacial double glass configurations as standard technical features. A next-generation pipeline showcased at RE+ 2025 includes an 800W HJT-Perovskite tandem panel, 730W HJT module, 580W flexible BIPV panels, and solar tiles.

The company's business model is straightforward hardware sales of manufactured solar modules, with pricing conducted via direct quote rather than public list pricing. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales for utility-scale and large commercial projects, supplemented by direct engagement with commercial businesses for rooftop installations and homeowners for residential systems. The company explicitly targets three primary customer segments (utility companies, commercial businesses, and homeowners) as equally weighted, and serves as a module supplier within EPC-led utility projects such as the 155.735 MW Cherry Valley I PV Project in Arkansas. The company has signed ecosystem partnerships with SMA Solar Technology, PROINSO, Lithion Battery, Sungrow, and SOLV Energy to embed its modules within inverter, storage, and EPC delivery channels, and is investing in a planned solar cell factory in Orangeburg targeted for early 2026 commissioning to enable vertical integration from cell to module.

The strategic positioning emphasizes U.S.-domestic manufacturing to access IRA-driven tax credits and domestic procurement preferences, with a stated goal of achieving Tier 1 solar panel brand status by end of 2025. The most material strategic risk is FEOC compliance: company-level analysis indicates Hounen Solar is likely to fail the Foreign Entity of Concern test, which would disqualify it from accessing IRA Section 45X tax credits and materially weaken the economics of its U.S. manufacturing footprint.

Name

Hounen Solar

Legal name

Hounen Solar America Inc.

Website

https://hounensolar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hounen Solar America Inc. is a U.S.-based solar module manufacturer operating a 1GW assembly facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, producing monocrystalline N-TYPE and P-TYPE PV modules for utility, commercial, and residential customers. Founded in 2022, the company employs 200+ staff across manufacturing and distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Photovoltaic Modules

akta.pro primary industry

Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK), Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD), Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO)

Keywords

• Photovoltaic solar modules
• Monocrystalline solar cells
• Solar panel manufacturing
• Bifacial solar modules
• Utility-scale solar systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Orangeburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Solar Module Sales: Sale of manufactured solar modules including residential, commercial rooftop, and utility-scale panels produced at the 1GW South Carolina facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Hounen Solar manufactures and sells monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) solar modules at a 1GW annual production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The portfolio includes half-cell bifacial double-glass N-TYPE and P-TYPE modules (395W-725W), next-generation HJT and HJT-Perovskite tandem panels up to 800W, and BIPV solutions, sold to utility, commercial, and residential customers in the U.S. market. Complete residential rooftop, commercial rooftop, and utility-scale power plant system solutions are offered alongside individual module sales.

Product overview

Hounen Solar is a U.S.-based solar module manufacturer with a comprehensive portfolio of photovoltaic products. The company operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina with 1GW annual production capacity. The product lineup includes two main categories: current-generation commercial products spanning multiple power ratings (395W-725W) across both N-TYPE and P-TYPE technologies, including HNM7 and HNM8 series modules with varying efficiencies up to 23.34%; and next-generation technologies showcased at RE+ 2025 including HJT-Perovskite tandem panels, flexible BIPV panels, and solar tiles. All modules feature half-cell technology, with bifacial double glass configurations available, and carry 25 or 30-year warranties with CSA certification. The company serves residential, commercial, and utility-scale segments through its assembled-in-USA product range.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HNM7-UHLDD108 Series Solar Module 420W-440W N-TYPE monocrystalline solar module with 22.53% max efficiency and 16BB half-cell bifacial double-glass technology, designed for residential applications.
• HNM7-UHLDD144 Series Solar Module 565W-585W N-TYPE monocrystalline solar module with 22.65% max efficiency and bifacial double-glass half-cell technology, intended for commercial and utility-scale installations.
• HNM7-SH108 Series Solar Module 395W-420W P-TYPE black monocrystalline solar module with 21.51% max efficiency and 10BB half-cell technology, designed for residential rooftop installations.
• HNM7-SHLDD156 Series Solar Module 585W-610W P-TYPE monocrystalline solar module with 10BB half-cell bifacial double-glass technology, aimed at commercial rooftop systems.
• HNM7-SHDB144 Series Solar Module 535W-560W P-TYPE black monocrystalline solar module with 21.68% max efficiency and 10BB half-cell technology, suited for residential applications.
• HNM7-UHLDD156 Series Solar Module 610W-630W N-TYPE monocrystalline solar module with 22.54% max efficiency and bifacial double-glass half-cell technology, designed for utility-scale power plants.
• HNM8-GPLDD132 Series Solar Module 700W-725W N-TYPE monocrystalline solar module with 23.34% max efficiency and 18BB half-cell bifacial double-glass technology, designed for utility-scale applications.
• HNM8-TPLDD132 Series Solar Module 650W-670W P-TYPE monocrystalline solar module with 21.57% max efficiency and 12BB half-cell bifacial monocrystalline technology, suited for commercial and utility installations.
• 800W HJT-Perovskite Tandem Panel Next-generation 800W solar module combining heterojunction (HJT) and perovskite tandem cell technologies, targeted at high-efficiency utility-scale and commercial applications.
• 730W HJT Module High-power 730W-range heterojunction (HJT) solar module targeted at utility-scale and commercial solar projects.
• 580W Flexible BIPV Panels 580W flexible building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panels for architectural integration on curved or non-standard surfaces.
• Solar Tiles Building-integrated photovoltaic solar tiles for seamless architectural integration into roof surfaces.
• Perovskite Modules Advanced perovskite-based solar modules targeting next-generation solar efficiency improvements for utility, commercial, and residential applications.
• Hounen Solar Residential System Complete residential rooftop solar power system providing efficient, clean, and safe energy for family homes, built on Hounen Solar residential-rated modules.
• Hounen Solar Commercial Rooftop System Complete commercial rooftop solar system designed to lower electricity costs and improve business competitiveness, using Hounen Solar commercial-grade modules.
• Hounen Solar Utility-Scale Power Plant Solution Large-scale centralized power plant solution delivering sustainable power from high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and PV modules, targeted at utility-scale operators and developers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1GW annual production capacity sufficient for 350,000 homes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SOLV EnergyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 March 2026SOLV Energy served as the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractor for the Cherry Valley I PV Project in Arkansas.
• SMA Solar TechnologycoreTechnology or Integration · 15 February 2026Collaboration with SMA at Intersolar & Energy Storage North America 2026 to showcase inverter solutions including Sunny Tripower X and Sunny Highpower PEAK3. SMA is positioning the Sunny Island X-US battery inverter as the control system and intelligence layer for commercial storage systems.
• Fort Prince LogisticsminorOthers · 1 December 2025Hounen Solar America Inc acquired a 476,280-square-foot industrial building at 1090 Fort Prince Blvd., Wellford from Fort Prince Logistics in Q4 2025.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Solar: Global Tier-1 solar module manufacturer with a robust U.S. project development arm (Recurrent Energy). Overlaps with Hounen in module supply for utility-scale solar and competes for IRA-incentivized project offtake.
• JA Solar: Top global Tier-1 crystalline-silicon solar module manufacturer with utility, commercial, and residential products. Competes with Hounen across the same customer segments and is investing in overseas module assembly capacity.
• LONGi Green Energy: World's largest crystalline-silicon wafer and module manufacturer with growing U.S. manufacturing investments. A vertically integrated incumbent whose scale and technology roadmap (HPBC, tandem) compete directly with Hounen's positioning.
• Trina Solar: Global Tier-1 crystalline-silicon module manufacturer with utility-scale, commercial, and residential products. Competes with Hounen in U.S. markets via imported modules and recently announced U.S. manufacturing footprint plans.
• JinkoSolar: One of the world's largest crystalline-silicon solar module manufacturers by volume. Competes with Hounen across all segments globally and increasingly in the U.S. via import and distribution; broader scale and Tier-1 bankability make it a dominant incumbent.

Direct peers

• Heliene: Privately held U.S.- and Canada-based crystalline-silicon solar module manufacturer with utility, commercial, and residential product lines. Closely comparable to Hounen in product (mono-Si modules), geography (North American manufacturing), and customer segments served.
• Hanwha Qcells: South Korea-headquartered solar module manufacturer with major U.S. manufacturing operations (Georgia) producing crystalline-silicon modules for utility, commercial, and residential markets. Directly competes with Hounen for IRA-aligned utility-scale and commercial rooftop module supply.
• First Solar: Large U.S.-headquartered solar module manufacturer with utility-scale focus. Both compete for domestic-content premium utility-scale contracts under IRA incentives; First Solar uses thin-film while Hounen is crystalline-silicon, but both target the same U.S. utility customer base with U.S.-made panels.
• Mission Solar Energy: U.S.-based crystalline-silicon solar module manufacturer headquartered in San Antonio with utility, commercial and residential offerings. Compares to Hounen across product technology (mono-Si PERC/TopCon), domestic manufacturing positioning, and diversified customer base.

Emerging players

• REC Group: Norway-founded solar module manufacturer (now part of Chemtech) with alpha-Type/HJT technology focus and U.S. distribution. A niche Tier-1 challenger whose premium residential and commercial product positioning parallels some of Hounen's N-TYPE and BIPV ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/officialhounen
• Facebookfacebook.com/officialhounensolar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hounensolar

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hounen Solar