Economy
Origami Solar Steel Frames Could Aid US Industry
May 23, 2023
Bend, Oregon-based Origami Solar has announced its Gen 2 steel module frame, which can be sourced from domestic steelmakers.
The solar panel company said the steel solar module frame represents “a game-changing opportunity to disrupt high-risk Asian supply chains.” It can achieve this by leveraging US steel resources to end the solar industry’s reliance on imported aluminum.
Sourcing domestic steel frames can lower costs, create jobs, and tap into domestic content incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the company added.
“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,” Gregg Patterson, CEO of Origami Solar, said in a press release on Monday.
The company noted the frames will reduce production-related greenhouse gases by up to 93%. This represents a reduction of 80 kilograms per module, or 200 metric tons per megawatt (MW), through the use of recycled, or “green steel,” according to the release.
Origami Solar said Gen 2 production-ready frames are now available for evaluation testing by module makers and key partners across the solar value chain.
By Ethan Bernard, ethan@steelmarketupdate.com
Latest in Economy
ArcelorMittal plans wire-drawing closure in Hamilton, shifts production to Montreal
ArcelorMittal’s (AM) Hamilton location to be shuttered, wire production shifting to Montreal.
Beige Book finds growing economic, policy uncertainty
All districts reported "hesitancy and a cautious approach to business and household decisions,” according to the Beige Book.
ISM: Manufacturing continues to contract in May
May marks the third consecutive month US manufacturing activity declined, according to supply executives contributing to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)’s latest report.
Chicago PMI decreases 4.1 points in May
The Chicago Business Barometer reports that decreases in new orders, order backlogs, and softer production pulled the index down by 4.1-points to 40.5, in May.
Architecture firms struggle through April
For the third month in a row, architecture firms reported a reduction in billings through April, according to the latest Architecture Billings Index release.