Solar power panel manufacturer Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries Inc. and Nextpower announced a deal Feb. 18 for the steel module frames used to build the panels in Jacksonville.
The Nextpower frames will be manufactured in the U.S. with production expected to begin in mid-2026.
The deal is for more than 1 gigawatt of steel frames, scalable to up to 3 gigawatt over a three-year period. According to the U.S. Department of Energy website, 1 gigawatt, or 1 billion watts, is the equivalent to 1.887 million 530-watt photovoltaic panels — enough electricity to power 750,000 homes.
JinkoSolar makes solar modules at the building it leases at 4660 POW-MIA Memorial Parkway in AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center.
“This agreement with Jinko Solar represents clear market validation of steel frames as a reliable and cost-effective solution that supports both module durability and U.S. manufacturing priorities,” Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextpower, said in a news release.
“It also reinforces how the U.S. solar industry is industrializing, aligning domestic manufacturing, policy incentives, and proven technology at gigawatt scale.”
Fremont, California-based Nextpower said it plans to further expand its steel frame manufacturing presence in the Southeast.
Nextpower said it recently expanded its steel component manufacturing capacity in Memphis, Tennessee – one of more than 25 U.S. factories it has opened or expanded since 2021.
“Improving module durability and strengthening domestic supply chains are closely linked priorities and areas where Jinko Solar has long been a leader,” said Nigel Cockroft, general manager at Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries Inc., in the release.
“From our fourth generation extreme weather module platform to our Jacksonville facility, which has operated since 2018, we have consistently invested ahead of the market. Partnering with Nextpower to integrate domestically produced steel frames into our U.S. modules is a natural extension of that leadership, aligning with U.S. manufacturing priorities, while delivering greater durability at scale for customers and the broader solar industry.”
China-based JinkoSolar makes solar panels for residential and commercial uses across the United States.
JinkoSolar said in May 2025 had about 650 employees at the plant.