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Hanwha Qcells is accelerating its push into the U.S. Big Tech market by securing a renewable energy procurement project for Meta. As electricity demand for data centers surges due to the expansion of AI, the company plans to expand its presence in North America by leveraging its integrated renewable energy solutions, which span from module manufacturing to engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC).

According to Hanwha Qcells on July 6, the company signed a contract with U.S. renewable energy developer Zelestra Energy to supply modules and provide EPC services for a 200-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Gibson County, Indiana.

Under the agreement, Hanwha Qcells will supply approximately 320,000 solar modules and oversee the engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant. The project is slated for completion by the end of 2027. Under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between the developer and Meta, the electricity generated will be supplied to Meta's data centers and facilities. A 200 MW facility can generate enough electricity to power roughly 36,000 U.S. households for a year.

The power plant will be built on a former coal mining site. The project name, "Reclamation," reflects the goal of restoring a decommissioned industrial site into a green energy production hub. Following completion, the project is expected to help restore biodiversity and improve the local ecosystem through soil stabilization and green space restoration.

With the rapid expansion of AI and data centers, competition among global tech giants to secure renewable energy has intensified. According to BloombergNEF (BNEF), four companies—Meta, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft—accounted for approximately 49% of corporate renewable energy purchases worldwide last year. Hanwha Qcells plans to continuously scale up its renewable energy supply opportunities, focusing on these hyperscale corporations.

"Based on our manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. and our proven track record in EPC execution, we will continue to support global tech giants in achieving their clean energy goals," said Chris Hodrick, head of the EPC business division at Hanwha Qcells.

                                                                                                          Lee Seo-yeon