Suniva to build $350M solar factory in Laurens County

 

A Georgia-based manufacturer of monocrystalline silicon solar cells, will build a factory in Laurens with a $350 million investment that the South Carolina Department of Commerce says will create 564 new jobs.

Suniva Inc., which says it is the largest and oldest U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells, has entered agreements to bring a state-of-the-art 4.5-gigawatt solar cell manufacturing facility to Laurens. The company expects to open in the second quarter of 2027.

The new facility, coupled with Suniva’s existing facility at its headquarters in metro Atlanta, will bring the company’s total domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity to over 5.5 gigawatts annually — the largest of any merchant solar cell manufacturer in the United States, according to information from the company.

Founded in 2007 out of U.S. Department of Energy-funded research at the University Center for Excellence in Photovoltaics at Georgia Tech, the company became known for leading a push for solar cell manufacturing in the United States as a pillar of the nation’s energy independence and domestic energy security, according to a Commerce Department news release.

“Since its founding in 2007, Suniva has championed U.S. leadership in solar energy manufacturing,” Suniva CEO Tony Etnyre said in the release. “Solar is the fastest and most economical way to grow our nation’s energy supply — and at this critical juncture, access to energy will determine how America competes for generations to come. Our expansion in South Carolina means that renewable energy, made right here at home, will now do more than ever to secure that future.”

The company plans to lease a 620,000-square-foot building, located at 1200 Commerce Blvd. in Laurens, to produce advanced solar cells.

“Laurens County is excited to welcome Suniva and their first South Carolina operation to our community,” Laurens County Council Chairman Jeff Carroll said in the release. “The investment commitment and job creation are a testament to our business-friendly environment. We look forward to a great partnership with Suniva for many years to come.”

Suniva says the expansion represents a direct contribution to the nation’s energy security.

“Suniva has long championed U.S. leadership in solar manufacturing,” Etnyre said in the company annoucement.  “We are proud to partner with the state of South Carolina on this vital initiative.”

“At this moment in history, the question of where our energy comes from – and who controls the supply chain that delivers it – is among the most consequential questions America faces,” Matt Card, president and chief operating officer of Suniva, said in the release. “Suniva’s answer is straightforward: we build it here. With this expansion, Suniva contributes over 5.5GW of American-made solar cell capacity annually to a grid that increasingly depends on it. That’s not just good business. That’s a national imperative.”

Suniva is headquartered in Norcross. The company’s proprietary cell processing techniques and business model are used to achieve industry-leading efficiencies while maintaining among the lowest costs in the United States, according to the company website. Suniva looks beyond its products to work with solar module assemblers, EPC firms and solar plant developers to enable high-value solar projects benefiting from domestically made, high-quality and high-efficiency solar cells.

“By selecting its location in Laurens County, Suniva joins a growing number of manufacturers in Upstate S.C. whose products help to power the world, deepening our expertise in advanced energy,” Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO John Lummus said in the release. “We’re excited for the opportunities they will create in our region and look forward to watching them grow.”

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