ES Foundry, the silicon solar manufacturer based in Greenwood, South Carolina, announced it has now reached its full 3-GW manufacturing capacity. The company began production on its first 1-GW line last year and has now completed its 2-GW expansion line.
“This milestone is about execution,” said Alex Zhu, CEO of ES Foundry. “The U.S. solar market does not need more announcements — it needs operating capacity, proven production and domestic suppliers that can support customers now. With our 2-GW expansion complete, our total capacity now at 3 GW and the first cell off the new line, ES Foundry is helping close one of the most critical gaps in the U.S. solar supply chain.”
ES Foundry’s Greenwood facility produces bifacial PERC solar cells. The company’s manufacturing platform is designed to support high-volume production, rigorous quality standards and the documentation customers increasingly need as solar procurement becomes more focused on domestic content, FEOC compliance, supply chain transparency and long-term reliability.
“Customers are looking for manufacturing partners that can do more than promise capacity,” Zhu said. “They need partners that can produce, document and deliver. This expansion strengthens our ability to support customers at scale while helping build a more resilient and competitive U.S. solar supply chain.”
The completed expansion also reinforces ES Foundry’s growing economic impact in Greenwood County. Since launching operations, the company has hired more than 400 people, creating high-quality advanced manufacturing jobs and supporting workforce development across the region. As production scales, ES Foundry’s investment is expected to continue generating opportunities for local workers, suppliers and the broader community.
“Greenwood has been an outstanding partner as we have grown,” said Lionel Moss, General Manager of Operations at ES Foundry. “This community has the workforce, infrastructure and commitment needed to support advanced manufacturing at scale. We have already hired more than 400 people, and this expansion allows us to continue bringing jobs, investment and long-term economic value to the region.”
With the full 3-GW manufacturing capacity now operational, ES Foundry is considered the second-largest silicon cell manufacturer in the United States, behind just Qcells, which began production at its 3.5-GW plant in Georgia last month. Canadian Solar just recently started cell production on its 2.1-GW line in Indiana, and Suniva is operating its own 1-GW plant in Georgia.
