First Solar announced it will establish a new manufacturing facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, to onshore final production processes for Series 6 Plus modules. The company expects to spend approximately $330 million to establish the new facility, which is scheduled to commence commercial operations in the second half of 2026.
The onshored processes will transform thin film solar cells produced by First Solar’s international fleet into fully completed modules.
The Gaffney plant is expected to create over 600 new jobs and will increase First Solar’s capacity by 3.7 GW, reaching 17.7 GW of annual nameplate capacity in 2027. The new facility expands First Solar’s footprint in South Carolina, which currently includes a distribution center in Duncan and a longstanding partnership with Inland Port Greer.
“South Carolina is proud to be a destination for innovative energy companies that are powering our country with American technology,” said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. “First Solar’s investment will create 600 new jobs in Cherokee County, which will greatly strengthen the local economy and help advance America’s energy independence. Their expanded presence in our state will provide even more opportunities for hardworking South Carolinians.”
The Gaffney plant will join First Solar’s three fully vertically integrated manufacturing facilities in Ohio, and one each in Alabama and Louisiana, along with R&D centers in Ohio and California.
“The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the administration’s trade policies boosted demand for American energy technology, requiring a timely, agile response that allows us to meet the moment,” said Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar. “We expect that this new facility will enable us to serve the U.S. market with technology that is compliant with the act’s stringent provisions, within timelines that align with our customers’ objectives.”
News item from First Solar
