First Solar opens 1.7 GW module plant in South Carolina

· Energy · United States

First Solar has opened a 1.7 GW thin-film solar module plant in South Carolina. The site will complete production of modules whose earlier manufacturing stages happen at overseas facilities, bringing final assembly onto US soil. Annual capacity at the plant is set to rise from 1.7 GW to 3.4 GW by mid-2027. First Solar is among the largest US makers of cadmium telluride thin-film modules, a technology distinct from the crystalline silicon panels that dominate the market.

Why it matters：US solar manufacturing capacity is expanding as trade policy favors domestic assembly, and First Solar's doubling plan shows how thin-film suppliers are positioning for that shift.

Key points

  • The plant completes modules whose earlier stages are made overseas.
  • Capacity is set to double to 3.4 GW by mid-2027.
  • The site produces thin-film rather than crystalline silicon modules.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day