Solar panel manufacturer Heliene permanently laid off 93 employees at its solar panel assembly plant in Mountain Allen, Minnesota, effective August 5, 2026. The positions primarily involved solar panel assembly, though the notice also included some human resources roles. Heliene confirmed to Solar Power World that 182 positions remain active in Mountain Allen.

Heliene operates a manufacturing base with an annual production capacity of 800 megawatts, distributed across two buildings. The company's original plant began operations in 2018, while the second facility opened in 2022.

The layoffs "were due to unforeseen business conditions," and employees' salaries will continue to be paid until October 4, 2026. Heliene's Vice President of Human Resources, Brian Pringle, stated, "The measures planned are expected to be permanent, but the entire plant will not close; it will remain operational with a streamlined workforce that better aligns with current customer and business needs."

Canadian company Heliene first produced solar panels for the U.S. market through OEM Silicon Energy in the mid-2010s. After Silicon Energy exited the market, Heliene took over the factory in Mountain Iron and transformed it into its own brand. The company is highly focused on collaborating with North American suppliers and uses domestic components as much as possible in panel production.

Heliene's sales personnel described the company as a "manufacturer, not a warehouse" in Solar Power World. The company produces panels on order rather than storing unsold megawatt products in warehouses.

Last year, Heliene established its second manufacturing facility in Rogers, Minnesota—a 500-megawatt solar panel assembly plant—due to "the sustained demand for our high-quality, high-domestic-content solar photovoltaic modules," and has hired over 220 new employees there. Solar Power World confirmed with Heliene that the Rogers facility is unaffected by the layoff notice.