German wafer manufacturer NexWafe GmbH, partially owned by India’s Reliance Industries Limited, has signed a long-term supply agreement for nearly 7GW of silicon wafers with US cell manufacturer Talon PV. The agreement aims to support Talon’s proposed 4.8GW TOPCon cell factory in Texas and facilitate the joint development of next-generation N-type cell technology.
According to the agreement, NexWafe will supply its proprietary low-oxygen monocrystalline EpiNex wafers, produced via its pilot line in Bitterfeld, Germany, to Talon PV through 2032. Talon PV is currently constructing a 4.8GW TOPCon cell factory in Baytown, Texas, which is expected to begin production in early 2027.
Unlike the conventional industry-standard Czochralski (Cz) method, NexWafe utilizes an innovative “Direct-to-gas” process to manufacture EpiNex wafers. The company states that this approach significantly reduces material consumption and production waste. In 2024, NexWafe achieved a 24.4% conversion efficiency on a commercial-scale M6 heterojunction (HJT) cell production line using its wafers.
The two parties have also agreed to collaborate on enhancing TOPCon cell performance by leveraging the characteristics of EpiNex wafers. The cooperation will focus on optimizing wafer material properties, reducing oxygen content, and developing advanced junction designs to improve the efficiency and long-term reliability of N-type cells.
Dr. Davor Sutija, CEO of NexWafe, stated, “The agreement with Talon PV represents a significant step in building a next-generation ‘wafer-to-cell’ ecosystem spanning Germany and the United States.” Previously, in 2024, NexWafe established a subsidiary in the US to evaluate the feasibility of constructing a 6GW wafer factory.
This collaboration also strengthens the project’s compliance with renewable energy procurement rules under the US “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA). In October 2025, US cell and module manufacturer T1 Energy acquired a minority stake in Talon PV, aiming to enhance vertical integration and align with non-FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) manufacturing requirements.
