PVTIME – Argentina is set to open its landmark 1GW solar panel manufacturing plant, which is operated by the provincial energy firm Empresa Provincial Societaria del Estado (EPSE). Located in San Juan Province, near the Andes, EPSE will oversee the facility’s expansion from initial panel production using imported materials to full-scale manufacturing of cells, silicon ingots and wafers. The province’s goal is to produce 800,000 solar panels annually with a capacity of 450MW, and there are plans to double the output with upgrades to the machinery to make it a “superfactory” capable of producing 1GW.
Picture: EPSE
The campus comprises two zones: a solar panel plant and a cell, ingot and wafer complex. Construction of the panel factory was completed in April, with production scheduled for September — slightly delayed, but still on track. The cell facility will follow in a subsequent phase.
According to the Argentine Chamber of Renewable Energy (Cader), this is the first solar cell manufacturing venture in Latin America. While Brazil has laminator facilities, there are currently no regional cell producers. The plant sources key components, including cells and inverters, from China, with Power China as a primary supplier. This enables cost savings of 10–15% on final products.
Notably, the nearly fully automated plant requires only 110 workers specialising in robotics and maintenance, and indirect jobs will be created through supply chain operations. This blend of technological innovation and local workforce development establishes the facility as a cornerstone of Argentina’s renewable energy initiative.
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