U.S.-based crystalline solar cell producer ES Foundry has opened a high-volume solar cell manufacturing facility in Greenwood, South Carolina.

The facility is expected to achieve a shipment capacity of 3 GW by the third quarter (Q3) of 2025. The company aims to manufacture crystalline bifacial Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) solar cells to meet the increasing demand for domestically manufactured solar modules.

ES Foundry said the facility will contribute to the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) goal of achieving 100 GW of renewable energy manufacturing capacity, including 50 GW of solar production by 2030.

According to the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, the solar industry’s economic activity is expected to rise from $306.6 million in 2024 to approximately $1.4 billion by 2035. The increasing activity is projected to create 3,315 permanent jobs, generating $260.9 million annually in labor income.

With its latest facility, ES Foundry aims to support the state in achieving its expected $19 billion economic impact for the solar industry by 2035.

The company recently announced its first GW+ multi-year contract with a top-tier solar module manufacturer.

Last December, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its preliminary affirmative determinations in the anti-dumping duty investigations of crystalline photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This move follows investigations from concerns that manufacturers in these countries benefit from unfair government subsidies.

In August 2024, the U.S. increased the volume of tariff-free solar cell imports to help domestic solar module manufacturers. The tariff-rate quota of imported solar cells was increased to 12.5 GW from 5 GW. The tariff, however, was to remain at 14.25%.

In Q2 2024, the U.S. added 9.4 GW of new solar power capacity. Solar module manufacturing capacity in the country increased by over 10 GW to 31.3 GW, according to an SEIA and Wood Mackenzie report.