First Solar has announced that it will establish a new manufacturing facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, for the onshore final production processes for Series 6 Plus modules. The company expects to spend approximately $330 million to establish the new facility, which is expected to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2026.
The onshore processes will convert thin-film solar cells produced by First Solar’s international fleet into fully completed modules.
The Gaffney plant is expected to create more than 600 new jobs and increase First Solar’s capacity by 3.7 GW, reaching an annual capacity of 17.7 GW by 2027. The new plant expands First Solar’s footprint in South Carolina, which currently includes a distribution center in Duncan and a long-standing partnership with Inland Port Greer.
“South Carolina is proud to be a destination for innovative energy companies that provide our country with American technology,” said South Carolina Governor 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 stimulated demand for American energy technology, requiring a timely, flexible response that allows us to respond to this moment,” said Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar. “We expect this new facility will enable us to serve the U.S. market with technology that meets the strict requirements of the law, within timelines that align with our customers’ objectives.”
News item from First Solar
