Nextpower to Supply Steel Frames to Jinko’s US Panel Assembly Operations
•February 17, 2026
0
Why It Matters
The contract strengthens the domestic solar supply chain, boosts U.S. content credits, and improves long‑term module reliability for utility‑scale projects.
Key Takeaways
- •Nextpower to deliver >1 GW steel frames, up to 3 GW.
- •Supply supports Jinko’s Jacksonville plant, production by mid‑2026.
- •Steel frames increase tracker projects’ domestic content by 6%.
- •Expansion strengthens U.S. solar manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
- •Steel frames improve module durability and structural performance.
Pulse Analysis
The solar industry is gradually moving away from aluminum‑based trackers toward steel‑encased modules, a trend accelerated by recent Treasury guidance that rewards domestic content. Steel frames not only meet the 6 percent domestic‑content threshold for tracker projects, but they also offer superior torsional stiffness and lower deflection under wind loads. As manufacturers seek to lock in cost‑effective, resilient solutions, steel’s price stability and abundant U.S. supply chain make it an attractive alternative. Analysts estimate that steel‑frame adoption could grow to 30 percent of new utility‑scale tracker installations by 2028, driven by both performance data and policy incentives.
Nextpower’s multi‑year contract with Jinko Solar cements the company’s role as a primary steel‑frame supplier for the U.S. market. The agreement guarantees more than 1 GW of frames, with the option to scale to 3 GW by 2029, directly feeding Jinko’s Jacksonville, Florida, assembly line slated for mid‑2026 output. By expanding its manufacturing footprint in Memphis and other southeastern sites, Nextpower shortens logistics, lowers transportation costs, and reinforces a domestic supply loop that aligns with the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credit criteria. This synergy enables Jinko to market modules that combine high durability with a clear “Made in America” pedigree.
The partnership signals a broader industry validation of steel frames as a durability‑focused, policy‑compatible technology. Independent testing has shown that steel‑encased modules sustain less deflection during high‑wind events, translating into longer warranty periods and lower O&M costs for utilities. As utility‑scale developers increasingly factor lifecycle performance into bid evaluations, the availability of domestically produced steel frames could become a decisive procurement criterion. Looking ahead, the scaling of steel‑frame capacity may spur further innovations in module design, potentially unlocking new cost curves for the next generation of U.S. solar projects.
Nextpower to supply steel frames to Jinko’s US panel assembly operations
Nextpower signs multi‑year steel frame supply agreement with Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries
By Kelly Pickerel, editor in chief, Solar Power World
Nextpower has entered into a multi‑year steel frame supply agreement with Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries. Nextpower will supply more than 1 GW of steel frames, scalable to up to 3 GW over a three‑year period, to support module manufacturing in Jinko Solar’s Jacksonville, Florida, facility, with production expected mid‑2026.
For developers, U.S.-made steel frames add 6 % to a tracker project’s domestic content calculation, according to Dept. of the Treasury guidance.
“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,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextpower. “It also reinforces how the U.S. solar industry is industrializing, aligning domestic manufacturing, policy incentives, and proven technology at gigawatt scale.”
To simplify project logistics and reinforce the domestic supply chain, Nextpower plans to further expand its steel frame manufacturing presence in the southeastern United States to enable direct supply to the Jinko Solar U.S. facility in Jacksonville. This strategy follows Nextpower’s recent expansion of its steel component manufacturing capacity in Memphis, Tennessee – one of more than 25 U.S. factories Nextpower 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. “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.”
Industry‑wide reliability data is increasingly shaping procurement decisions for utility‑scale solar projects. Independent testing has demonstrated the structural advantages of steel frames, including improved torsional stiffness and reduced deflection under mechanical load — key factors in supporting long‑term module reliability.
Kelly Pickerel has more than 15 years of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World. Email: [email protected]
0
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...