Jinko Solar announced a multi‑year agreement with Nextpower to supply more than one gigawatt of high‑strength, U.S.‑made steel frames for its Jacksonville, Florida module‑manufacturing plant. The contract can scale up to 3 GW over three years, providing a domestic source of frames that add a 6 % boost to a project’s domestic‑content score under Treasury guidance for clean‑energy projects.
The deal is a key element of Jinko’s strategy to localize production and reduce exposure to overseas supply‑chain disruptions. By sourcing steel frames domestically, the company can qualify for the domestic‑content bonus under the Inflation Reduction Act, improving the economics of its U.S. projects and enhancing its competitive position against rivals that still rely on imported aluminum frames.
Nextpower, formerly Nextracker, rebranded in November 2025 to reflect its broader focus on integrated energy‑technology solutions. The company has been expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint, and the Jacksonville agreement represents a significant order that validates its U.S.‑made steel‑frame technology. Independent testing shows that steel frames offer superior torsional stiffness and reduced deflection compared with traditional aluminum frames, translating into higher module durability and lower maintenance costs.
Jinko’s Jacksonville facility, which began operations in 2018 with a 400 MW annual capacity, has undergone expansions and is operating near full capacity. The new steel‑frame supply will allow the plant to increase output and improve product reliability, supporting the company’s focus on high‑performance, high‑power modules. The agreement also mitigates supply‑chain risks that have weighed on the company’s profitability in recent quarters.
Financially, Jinko has faced significant headwinds. In Q1 2025 the company reported a net loss of $180 million on revenue of $1.91 billion, a 39.9 % decline YoY, while Q4 2024 saw a net loss of $64.9 million on revenue of $2.83 billion, a 37.1 % decline. The steel‑frame deal is therefore a strategic move to improve cost efficiency and leverage IRA incentives, potentially offsetting some of the margin pressure caused by falling module prices and trade‑policy disruptions.
The agreement also aligns with broader industry trends toward domestic manufacturing and higher‑value product lines. By securing a reliable source of high‑strength frames, Jinko can reduce lead times, lower logistics costs, and enhance its ability to meet U.S. domestic‑content requirements, all of which are critical for maintaining competitiveness in a market where pricing power is eroding and supply‑chain resilience is increasingly valued.
Overall, the deal represents a material operational milestone that could improve Jinko’s cost structure, strengthen its U.S. market position, and provide a hedge against ongoing supply‑chain uncertainties. The strategic alignment with IRA incentives and the company’s financial challenges underscore the importance of this agreement for Jinko’s long‑term execution and competitiveness.
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