The world’s largest solar panel producer LONGi of China is finally making inroads into the US solar PV value chain as manufacturing partner of renewable energy developer Invenergy for a 5 GW solar module production facility to be located in Pataskala, Ohio.

The planned fab will manufacture high quality domestic solar panels, but Invenergy did not share details about the cell technology it will adopt.

Located in Licking County, Pataskala will host the fab to be operated by Illuminate USA in which Invenergy said it will invest more than $600 million, including $220 million commitment to acquire and build out a 1.1 million sq. ft. building.

The 5 GW fab is expected to create a minimum of 850 ‘good-paying’ administrative assembly and engineering jobs once it comes online by the end of 2023. Construction on site is scheduled to start in April 2023.

Invenergy said it will invest over $600 million through Illuminate USA to set up the fab which will be one of the largest solar panel production facilities in the country. It will be built on an industrial site. Invenergy is the anchor customer of Illuminate USA joint venture (JV) with LONGi as the manufacturing partner.

The renewables company currently has a portfolio of 775 MW solar in Ohio and claims to have developed over 6 GW of solar projects globally. “Invenergy has developed approximately 10% of the entire US wind and solar fleet,” it added.

American silicon-free module manufacturer First Solar, Inc already operates its 2 production fabs with 3.0 GW combined capacity in Perrysburg, Ohio and continues to expand with another 3.5 GW facility slated to come online in H1/2023. It is also building a 3.5 GW fab in Alabama (see First Solar Picks Alabama For New US Module Fab).

Battling trade issues that hamper their business in one of the world’s largest solar markets, the US that’s also providing attractive incentives for local production under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for Chinese companies setting up shop in the country is an attractive option. Earlier this year, JA Solar also announced plans to develop 2 GW module fab in the US (see JA Solar Takes US Solar Module Manufacturing Steps).

LONGi’s Brand GM and Head of Global Marketing Talisman Huo will discuss the company’s sustainability strategy on March 30, 2023 in the TaiyangNews Solar & Sustainability Virtual Conference. Registrations to the event are free and can be done here.