PVTIME – JA Solar, the world’s leading solar cell and module manufacturer, disclosed on January 11 that it will invest in $60 million for its first manufacturing plant in the U.S. in Phoenix, Arizona, to produce high-efficiency solar panels and related photovoltaic products.
The company has leased a factory and expects to start the operating in Q4 of the year of 2023, creating over 600 new jobs. It will use highly automated assembly lines to produce high-performance rooftop solar panels for commercial and residential application, and for utility-scale solar power plants. The production capacity of the facility is expected to reach 2GW, which will make it the largest PV factory in Arizona once it is fully functional.
“Arizona is proud to welcome JA Solar’s first U.S. manufacturing facility to Phoenix,” said Katie Hobbs the Governor. “There’s no better place in the world for sustainable industries like solar and we are excited to see this facility add to Arizona’s clean energy reputation.”
“We are very excited to be able to set up the first U.S. solar module manufacturing facility in Arizona to provide our customers in the U.S. the flexibility and ease of access to JA Solar’s high-performance PV products,” said Aiqing Yang, President of JA Solar. “JA Solar thanks all the partners in Arizona, especially the ACA, GPEC, and the City of Phoenix for their great support and tremendous assistance during the entire process of site selection and space leasing in preparation to establish the manufacturing facility. Solar is a critical part of renewable energy and we are thrilled to be a part of the effort to meet the goal of carbon neutral by 2050 in the U.S.”
“JA Solar’s new facility showcases Arizona’s attractiveness as a global manufacturing destination,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We are grateful JA Solar will manufacture its high-efficiency solar panels in Phoenix, enhancing Arizona’s renewable energy industry.”
“Innovations in clean technology allow Greater Phoenix to produce the power requisite for promoting job growth throughout the region,” said Chris Camacho, President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. “We are excited to support JA Solar in its expansion to Phoenix, creating more than 600 jobs for local residents and sustainably bolstering energy production in the region to enable economic transformation.”
The new plant is expected to promote the city of Phoenix to achieve its goals related to both economic growth and sustainability development.
