PVTIME – US photovoltaic manufacturer Suniva has confirmed plans to expand its domestic production capacity by building a second monocrystalline solar cell manufacturing facility in Laurens, South Carolina. The company has secured agreements for the new plant, which will have an annual capacity of 4.5GW and is scheduled to begin operating in Q2 2027.
Combined with Suniva’s existing 1GW manufacturing base outside Atlanta, the new facility will increase the company’s total US annual capacity to 5.5GW, strengthening its position in the domestic renewable energy sector.
Suniva’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Etna, emphasised the company’s long-standing dedication to establishing US leadership in photovoltaic manufacturing. He noted that solar energy is the fastest and most cost-effective way to increase the national energy supply, and added that the increased capacity will allow domestically produced renewable energy to play an unprecedented role in ensuring US energy security. Mr Etna also expressed the company’s pride in collaborating with South Carolina on this strategic project.
Suniva’s journey in the US market has been challenging. Founded in 2007 as the nation’s largest manufacturer of solar cells and modules, the company suspended production in 2017 due to competition from low-cost imported products. Silicon cell production will resume in Georgia at the end of 2024.
The Laurens facility will span 620,000 square feet, with Suniva investing USD 350 million in the project and creating over 550 jobs. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster noted that the investment will deliver 564 new roles in advanced manufacturing and energy and provide fresh opportunities for the local workforce. He emphasised the state’s commitment to innovative energy solutions and welcomed Suniva to Laurens County.
ES Foundry’s silicon solar manufacturing base, which has an annual capacity of 3GW and is currently the largest in the US, is situated 30 miles south of the new Suniva plant. Once its new facility enters operation, Suniva is set to become the largest silicon solar cell manufacturer in the US.
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