ES Foundry has announced the launch of its US solar cell manufacturing facility with 3 GW planned capacity
It produces high-quality bifacial solar cells, calling these a proven, cost-effective solution
The Greenwood, South Carolina factory is expected to reach a shipment capacity of 3 GW by Q3 2025
ES Foundry has announced the launch of its high-quality crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing factory in the US, which is expected to reach a shipment capacity of 3 GW by Q3 2025. This, it says, will make it the largest producer of high-quality crystalline silicon PV cells in the country.
The factory, spread over more than 400,000 sq. ft. in Greenwood, South Carolina, will employ close to 500 area residents by June this year.
While PERC as a cell technology is being fast replaced by manufacturers globally, ES Foundry has decided to stick to producing crystalline bifacial PERC solar cells, instead of the more popular choice of TOPCon cell technology that, of late, has been embroiled in patent disputes globally.
ES Foundry says PERC cells are a proven, cost-effective solution for developers/asset owners, tax equity providers and panel manufacturers. It does not face ‘challenges with scalability and durability’ unlike emerging technologies.
These cells will also support its partners to get access to an additional 10% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) benefit for domestic content, claims the management.
“Our advanced solar cells are engineered and manufactured right here in the United States, ensuring reliability, efficiency and the opportunity to maximize financial incentives for our partners,” said ES Foundry CEO Alex Zhu.
The company recently secured its maiden GW+, multi-year contract with a top-tier solar module manufacturer in January 2025.
In September 2024, ES Foundry CEO Alex Zhu at the RE+ event in the US shared with TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela that the company plans to offer OEM manufacturing to other companies (see ES Foundry Plans US Cell Production Start in 2024).
Currently, Suniva is reportedly the only solar cell manufacturer to have started operations of its 1 GW factory in Norcross, Georgia. It is to be followed by another 1.5 GW capacity (see IRA Breathes Life Into Shuttered US Solar Factory).
According to the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), companies have announced plans to manufacture 56 GW of cell capacity in the US whereas module capacity now exceeds 50 GW (see US Solar Module Manufacturing Capacity Exceeds 50 GW Milestone).