Solar manufacturers expand US production capacity

Major solar energy companies are significantly expanding their manufacturing footprints in the United States. SEG Solar has secured land for a $950 million heterojunction (HJT) solar cell plant at its Tomball Industrial Campus in the greater Houston, Texas area. The facility is expected to add 4 GW of annual capacity in two phases scheduled for 2028 and 2029, potentially creating over 700 local jobs and integrating cell, module, and component production in one location.

In South Carolina, First Solar has inaugurated the first phase of a $330 million facility in Gaffney. This plant focuses on the final production stages of its Series 6 Plus modules. The company plans to complete a second phase by mid-2027, which is expected to double the facility's annual capacity to 3.4 GW and support nearly 700 jobs.

Additionally, Canadian Solar announced plans to double its HJT solar cell capacity in Jeffersonville, Indiana, to 6.3 GW. Following the opening of its flagship factory in July 2026, the company intends to begin trial production for a second phase in the first quarter of 2027, positioning its facility as the largest crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturer in North America.