PVTIME – The Vietnamese solar manufacturer Boviet Solar has increased the production capacity of its photovoltaic module factory in North Carolina by 1GW, raising the site’s total annual capacity to 3GW. The Greenville-based facility, which began operations in April this year, produces two ranges of modules using PERC technology: the monofacial Gamma series and the bifacial Vega series. The facility now has three module production lines, which Boviet Solar says will meet the growing demand for solar products manufactured in the United States.
Marco Marquez, general manager of the Greenville plant, described the addition of the third production line as a significant milestone in the site’s development, stating that it would enhance the company’s capacity to supply reliable, US-manufactured photovoltaic modules and create high-quality local jobs.
Demand for US-made solar products has risen significantly this year, particularly following the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in the summer. This has driven growth in module manufacturing capacity, with the United States adding 8.7GW of new capacity in the first nine months of 2024. However, solar cell manufacturing capacity has grown more slowly, with only 2GW of new capacity set to be added in 2024 and 2025 combined.
Boviet Solar is looking to expand its capabilities in both module and cell manufacturing. In August, the company completed external construction work on a cell manufacturing facility at the Greenville site. This factory is expected to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2026. Total investment in the site’s cell and module manufacturing operations amounts to $400 million.
Boviet Solar is not the only company increasing its solar cell production capacity in the United States. ES Foundry has also made progress with its own US-based cell manufacturing facility, breaking ground on a plant near the South Carolina border in February. ES Foundry is focusing on PERC cells, which it claims are more reliable and proven than TOPCon technology. Although TOPCon cells are more efficient, there have been multiple patent disputes involving them between manufacturers so far this year.
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