Origami Solar, developers of a patent-pending steel frame for solar modules that won the American Made Solar Prize in 2022, announced its Gen 2 steel module frame, with production samples ready for evaluation and certification testing.
The company’s newly developed frame is lighter and provides enhanced structural performance compared to the first-generation prototype. With performance testing by third-party labs and module manufacturers nearing completion, Gen 2 production-ready frames are now available for evaluation testing by module makers and key partners across the solar value chain.
The steel solar module frame represents a game-changing opportunity to disrupt high-risk Asian supply chains by leveraging regional steelmaking resources to end the solar industry’s reliance on imported aluminum.
We have an in-depth feature on Origami Solar coming in our Q2 edition of Solar Builder magazine. Subscribe here.
“Origami Solar steel module frames will help accelerate our energy independence, significantly reduce the solar industry’s carbon footprint, and enable unconstrained local-region panel production,” said Gregg Patterson, CEO of Origami Solar. “Our Gen 2 frames are lighter, stronger and ideally suited to provide superior support to the new large-format modules coming to market. In collaboration with steelmakers and precision roll formers, we have designed the Origami steel module frame to match the fit, form and function of industry-standard frames, making the transition from aluminum to steel seamless for module manufacturing and field installation.”
“We are excited to partner with Origami Solar to develop their innovative and revolutionary steel module frames,” said Thomas Welser of Welser Profile, a leading worldwide manufacturer of roll-formed steel products. “Our goal throughout this process has been to support Origami Solar to ensure that any solar panel producer will be able to rapidly integrate and scale these frames with virtually no changes to their production processes, in both the U.S. and Europe. Together with Origami Solar we have optimized the design and are working on further innovations that will address future industry needs.”
Along with support for increased production of domestically produced recycled steel, Origami Solar frames will dramatically reduce production-related greenhouse gases by up to 93%, representing a reduction of 80 kg per module or 200 metric tons per MW, through the use of recycled, or “green” steel.
— Solar Builder magazine
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