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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Singapore-Based Bila Solar Plans Indianapolis, Indiana, Headquarters-Manufacturing Complex

08/30/2023
Singapore-based Bila Solar, a solar energy startup, plans to establish its U.S. headquarters and module manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. The more than $35 million project is expected to create 240 jobs.

The company will renovate and equip an existing 150,000-square-foot space just south of downtown at 1249 S. White River Parkway East Drive. The new factory will produce a yearly capacity of one gigawatt (GW) of innovative glassless, frameless solar modules, an output akin to crafting around 5,000 high-capacity modules daily. Production is scheduled for the summer of 2024.

“We are thrilled to begin the Bila Solar journey in Indianapolis,” said Mick McDaniel, vice president and U.S. general manager of Bila Solar. “We’re bringing to the U.S. market ultralight modules that go where traditional solar panels can’t go. In Indianapolis, we found a central urban location, a diverse workforce and an entrepreneurial spirit, ideal for our out-of-the-box approach to making clean energy attainable for all.”

Pending approval of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors, the IEDC will commit an investment of up to $4.2 million in the form of incentive-based tax credits and up to $300,000 in workforce training grants, based on the company’s investment and job creation plans. The IEDC will also commit an investment of up to $2 million in Hoosier Business Investment tax credits and up to $200,000 in Manufacturing Readiness Grants, which are designed to help companies invest in smart manufacturing and new technologies. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. The city of Indianapolis will offer additional incentives.

“Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is strong, and we’re excited to welcome Bila Solar to our growing network of innovators advancing products that power the world,” noted Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “With Bila’s new Indianapolis manufacturing operation, Indiana’s skilled workforce will be making solar energy more accessible and powering our growing clean energy sector to new heights.”

Bila Solar’s debut product is a lightweight solar module that combines the reliability and high efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells with the lightness of specialty designed and patented aerospace composites. The company currently operates a 1 GW manufacturing facility in Asia.

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